Guwahati Homestay Student Death: Parents Allege Assault; Probe Underway

Protests over an alleged rape claim at Lovely Professional University in Phagwara escalated into violence on the second day, with students blocking the Phagwara-Jalandhar stretch of National Highway 44. Demonstrators pelted stones and vandalised vehicles, setting a Punjab police vehicle on fire and leaving several personnel injured. Police registered an FIR and formed a special investigation team to examine CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and phone records, stating that no corroborating evidence has been found so far. The university administration denied the incident occurred, while authorities called in additional forces to assess and control the situation.

A massive rescue operation is underway in Faridabad after a three-year-old girl fell into an eighty-foot open borewell. The child fell inside while playing around 5:30 p.m. Relief, rescue, and police teams arrived at the site to take charge of the operation. Emergency responders are excavating the ground adjacent to the borewell to reach the trapped child. Fire brigade units alongside an advanced life support ambulance remain stationed at the location to assist. The victim's father stated that the borewell was left uncovered and demanded that authorities ensure the safe return of his daughter.

In an interview with India Today, former Chinar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Satish Dua detailed the operational planning, strategic doctrine, and tactical execution of the 2016 cross-LoC surgical strikes following the Uri terror attack. Recalling the loss of 18 soldiers at Uri, Dua revealed that then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar authorized the retaliatory mission during operational briefings in Srinagar. Indian Army Special Forces crossed the Line of Control to strike multiple terrorist launch pads simultaneously north and south of the Pir Panjal range at depths of four to five kilometers from stand-off positions. Intelligence assessments indicated between 40 and 60 terrorists were neutralized, while Indian forces suffered zero casualties. Dua emphasized that the operation combined tactical military action with diplomatic maneuvering at the United Nations General Assembly, establishing a precedent of proactive deterrence below the nuclear threshold that shaped subsequent responses, including the Balakot airstrikes.

A special broadcast of Pollution Ka Solution examines the escalating air pollution crisis across major urban centres, focusing on Delhi NCR and Mumbai, where hazardous Air Quality Index levels and winter toxic smog are creating an influx of pollution refugees. Residents and professionals, including Bharat Singh Kanwal, former advocate Prashant Kalra, and fashion designer Anuradha Prasad Dhawan, detail abandoning their careers and homes to relocate to destinations like Bengaluru and Goa after severe pediatric respiratory emergencies, persistent asthma, and health complications forced their departure. The discussion highlights broader urban systemic issues such as deficient waste management, unchecked deforestation, and rising cancer and respiratory burdens among children and senior citizens, with lifestyle expert Luke Coutinho noting that dietary adjustments cannot reverse cellular lung damage caused by toxic exposure. Panellists address policy implementation challenges surrounding the National Clean Air Programme and Graded Response Action Plan, calling for year-round interstate governance, strict environmental compliance accountability, and civic participation to counter urban air quality deterioration.