IIT Bombay Student Death: Crime Branch Probes Case Amid Torture Allegations

The autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in Srinagar began on a stormy note, witnessing protests and commotion inside the House. Bharatiya Janata Party legislators staged protests against the Omar Abdullah-led government over a recent power tariff hike, regularisation of contractual staff, including National Health Mission workers, and hiring through outsourcing agencies. Protesting members displayed placards and demanded rollbacks and government accountability. Security marshals were stationed inside the assembly as tensions escalated during the obituary reference and question hour. Outside the assembly, Apni Party members held demonstrations demanding clarity on reservation policies and pending administrative files. National Conference MLAs defended the government as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah attended the proceedings amid persistent sloganeering from opposition members representing various parties on governance and public welfare issues.

A major political controversy has broken out in Telangana after a woman advertising entrepreneur, K. Shobha Reddy, alleged that an individual claiming to be a close aide of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy invited her to a guest house for a meeting regarding business opportunities. The entrepreneur stated that she faced multiple hurdles without influence or funds and felt extremely uncomfortable during the interaction. Expressing fear of harassment after sharing her ordeal, she sought an appointment with the Chief Minister and stated she possessed evidence to substantiate her claims. The allegations triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties, including the BRS and BJP, who demanded a transparent investigation and strict legal action against the individual involved. BJP leader N. Ramchandra Rao termed the matter a serious issue concerning the security and safety of women entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, the state government is yet to provide official clarity on the identity of the person involved.

A dispute over ten rupees in fare change turned fatal in Hyderabad after a forty-two-year-old auto-rickshaw driver, Mohammed Mukarram, was brutally assaulted by passengers. According to preliminary reports, an altercation broke out after the driver allegedly lacked change for a two-hundred-rupee note. The suspects later summoned him back to a location in Vattepally, where they severely attacked him in front of his wife and daughter. The victim succumbed to his injuries after being shifted to a hospital. Police have registered a case and identified two key suspects, Azeem and Shoaib, as investigations continue.

A controversy has emerged over the Kerala International Film Festival as 31 films await censor exemption and clearance from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Out of 347 films submitted for festival screening, 316 films have received clearance, while 31 short films have neither been approved nor rejected without any reasons cited by the ministry. The Kerala Film Academy has reached out to the ministry regarding the pending permissions. With the documentary and short film festival scheduled to commence soon, state authorities plan to write to the central ministry again to seek clarification and clearance for the remaining films.