Gates Sealed, Security Deployed at Jamia Amid Left's Protest Call for Union Polls

Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita have been imposed outside Jamia Millia Islamia University following a dharna call by Left student groups. Heavy security deployment, including Central Armed Police Forces and Rapid Action Force personnel, has been stationed outside gate number seven to prevent unlawful gatherings. The university administration issued a final warning directing protesting students to vacate the Ghalib lawn immediately, citing disruption to academic classes and unauthorized assembly. Protests and hunger strikes have been underway on the campus since October 12 over demands to restore the Jamia students union elections, which have not taken place since 2006. Recent talks between students and authorities ended without a breakthrough.

Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police and sent to Puzhal Prison following the dismissal of his anticipatory bail plea by the Madras High Court. The Central Crime Branch has alleged a major bribery scam involving nearly 400 crore rupees per year collected from private schools for renewals and approvals. While the ruling administration termed the action an investigation into institutional corruption, the DMK condemned the arrest as political vendetta. Meanwhile, 17 remand prisoners escaped from a sub-jail in Thekkampatti, Theni, after faking a medical seizure and assaulting prison staff, prompting a multi-district search operation that has recaptured four fugitives. In another key decision, the state government announced the phased introduction of digital payments across 4,082 state-run TASMAC liquor outlets to curb overcharging and cash handling discrepancies. Additionally, Andhra Pradesh is on high alert as Cyclone Omar approaches landfall near Yanam and Visakhapatnam.

The Supreme Court heard petitions challenging the functioning of the Election Commission and allegations of unilateral decision-making by the Chief Election Commissioner. The court granted the petitioners, who include opposition leaders, ten days to file their response to the poll body's counter-affidavit. The Election Commission refuted all allegations in its 250-page filing, asserting that decisions regarding the revision process were made unanimously by the full commission. The poll body also highlighted constitutional protections for the Chief Election Commissioner and questioned the petitions for relying on a single newspaper report. Following the brief hearing, the proceedings were adjourned, with the matter likely to be taken up post-vacations.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravneet Singh Bittu arrived outside the Punjab Vidhan Sabha premises carrying an expensive liquor bottle to target Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Bittu claimed that the bottle was the same one seized by authorities when Mann landed at Delhi Airport following his foreign trip to France. Mann had earlier claimed he was detained at the international airport by customs authorities for three hours. Waving the bottle outside the assembly, Bittu alleged that liquor had harmed Punjab and used the demonstration as political satire to attack the state government over governance and law and order ahead of the assembly elections.