Har Ghar Tiranga: Pvt schools in U.P. capital plan grand celebrations

The Unaided Private Schools' Association, Uttar Pradesh, will take lead in “Har Ghar Tiranga” initiative as a build up to “Azadi ki Amrit Mahotsav” (75 years of India's Independence), said UPSA president Anil Agarwal. The schools will motivate students to hoist Tricolour atop their homes. “St Joseph Group of Institutions has decided to distribute 25,000 paper flags to its more than 12,000 students,” said the managing director of the school, Anil Agarwal.

Civic body adds 25 beds as Covid numbers rise

The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has set up 25 additional beds in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital Kalwa and a special ward reserved for COVID-19 patients as the number of cases in the Indian city increased to 252. Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar has ordered a "death audit" of patient fatalities and appealed to citizens to care for senior citizens and patients with comorbidities. The civic body has ordered extra oxygen concentrators, testing kits and medicines.

Minor found dead in Bihar’s Banka district, police suspect murder

Police in Bihar suspect that a 12-year-old boy found dead in an open graveyard was murdered. The boy had been reported missing on Thursday evening by his father, who said that he had gone to attend an event celebrating the Hindu festival of Ram Navami. The cause of death has yet to be established.

Man driving Amritpal’s car during Hoshiarpur police chase nabbed

Indian police have arrested the driver of a Toyota Innova believed to be ferrying Amritpal Singh, the chief of radical group Waris Punjab De, and his aide, who both escaped after a police chase on Tuesday night. Driver Joga Singh was arrested in Ludhiana district, and told police that Amritpal had handed him his own mobile phone in an attempt to avoid being caught. Search operations have been increased since the arrest.

Chitkara University’s Himachal campus bags A+ NAAC accreditation

Chitkara University's campus in Himachal Pradesh has been awarded an A+ rating by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), placing it among the top 5% of higher education institutions in India. The varsity received a cumulative grade point average of 3.42 on a 4-point scale, and was praised for its infrastructure, startup ecosystem and technology transfer, and good relationship with stakeholders. NAAC is an autonomous body of the University Grants Commission which assesses and accredits HEIs.

Karnataka BJP MLA N Y Gopalakrishna resigns, set to join Congress

Kudligi BJP MLA N Y Gopalakrishna has resigned as a legislator ahead of the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka and is expected to join the Congress. Gopalakrishna was previously with the Congress and had been elected from Molakalmuru Assembly segment in Chitradurga district four times. He joined the BJP ahead of the 2018 elections after not receiving the Congress ticket, and won from Kudligi in Vijayanagara district. This follows two MLCs from BJP and a JD(S) MLA joining the Congress in the past month.

Fresh stone pelting in Howrah day after Ram Navami clashes. Mamata-BJP war of words rages on

A fresh outbreak of stone-pelting occurred in Howrah district, West Bengal, a day after clashes broke out during a Ram Navami procession. Video footage from news agency ANI showed police attempting to control the situation as stones were thrown. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and other right-wing organisations for the violence, which has led to 31 arrests. The BJP hit back, accusing Banerjee of making "provocative statements against organisers of Ram Navami".

Drizzle in parts of Rajasthan; Kotputli receives highest rainfall

Western Disturbance has caused light to moderate rainfall in some parts of Rajasthan, with Kotputli receiving the highest rainfall of 40 mm in the last 24 hours. The weather office has warned of a possibility of thunderstorm in the districts of Bikaner, Ajmer, Jaipur, Bharatpur and Kota divisions. Another Western Disturbance is expected to become active on April 3, bringing thunderstorms, strong winds and light rain to parts of Bikaner division and Shekhawati region.

Bengaluru cops issue traffic advisory on Mysore road | Details

The Bengaluru traffic police have issued a fresh traffic advisory in light of the Rama Venugopala Swamy Rathotsava Jaatre, which will be taken out from the Gali Anjaneya Swamy temple on Mysore Road. The guideline barred all vehicles - including government-run KSRTC and BMTC buses - from entering and/or exiting the city via Mysore Road. The department suggested an alternative route instead, saying that vehicles can take a left at Hosa Guddadahalli junction on Mysore Road, go via the Timber Yard and take the 50 feet road in Muneshwara Block to get to Devegowda Circle via Hosakerehalli and rejoin the Mysore Road near Nayandahalli junction.

EC's flying squad stops Karnataka CM Bommai's vehicle to check. Video

The chief minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai, had his vehicle stopped by the flying squad team of the Election Commission of India on 9 April, as the model code of conduct came into force ahead of the state?s assembly elections. The squad conducted checks and then allowed the vehicle to proceed. Polling for the state?s assembly elections will be held on 10 May, with results announced on 13 May. The election will be contested by the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Janata Dal (Secular) party.

Unidentified assailants chop off granthi’s leg, fingers in Khadoor Sahib

Unidentified attackers have chopped off a Sikh priest's leg and fingers in Bania village, Punjab. Sukhchain Singh was returning from a gurdwara when he was attacked. The attackers reportedly took the dismembered leg. The police have not established a motive or connection to Singh's killing. This is the second such incident in the state in one month. On 8 February, attackers kidnapped Hardeep Singh Raju and chopped off his fingers. The incident was recorded on video and the police arrested three youths on 24 February.

Chhattisgarh: ED seeks action against bureaucrats for alleged graft

India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) has requested that the Chhattisgarh Police and Economic Offence Wing (EOW) take action against two bureaucrats, Saumya Chauraisa and Sameer Vishnoi, under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with an alleged scam involving illegal levies on coal. The ED, which arrested the pair last year under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, has alleged that a cartel of bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen imposed illegal levies of INR25 ($0.34) per tonne on coal transported in the state. It has cited incriminating materials to support its request.

Bihar: Governor calls university vice chancellors meet on April 3

The governor-cum-chancellor of Bihar, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, has called a meeting of all the vice-chancellors of state universities to discuss the roadmap for higher education, to improve it. Arlekar has said he would seek a time-bound action plan from the VCs to deal with issues of derailed academic sessions and exam calendars to restore the academic atmosphere in the universities. During his predecessor's tenure, the universities were criticised for corruption and deteriorating health. In another development, the chancellor has vested financial power in the acting registrars in eight state universities to ensure smooth functioning.

Karnataka: Family of four found hanging in Mangaluru hotel

Four members of a family, including two children, were found dead in a hotel in Mangaluru due to financial stress. A note was found in the hotel room where the bodies were discovered, indicating that the family was under immense financial stress which led them to take the extreme step. The police commissioner said that the investigation is still underway.

Karnataka: BJP likely to release the first list of candidates on April 6 or 7

India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may announce the first list of candidates for the Karnataka assembly elections on 6 or 7 April, according to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. The move comes after both Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) released their first lists of candidates. The BJP has reportedly asked prominent leaders in the state to collect opinions in all constituencies before shortlisting names. The Karnataka BJP's core committee is expected to finalise the first list in a few days.

Spice of Life: Joys multiply, sorrows divide in a joint family

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many people being separated from their families, but for those in joint families, the reunion of loved ones is a joyous and entertaining occasion. The writer describes the excitement and activity in her home as her children visit for a short while, with the entire family coming together to cook, stock up on snacks and prepare gifts. The warmth and love of a joint family is like a cozy blanket on a cold winter night, spreading joy and support throughout the household.