Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Steps Up Anti-Drug Drive, Directs Police To Target Supply Chains

A political controversy has erupted over the transfer of a five-year-old elephant named Durga from Manas in Assam to the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Durga is among five captive elephants slated for relocation to temples across Tamil Nadu, including Tiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, and Kanchipuram. Wildlife activists and netizens have raised serious concerns over the welfare of young elephants, alleging that mandatory scrutiny was bypassed. The issue has taken a political turn with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi questioning the Assam government over permissions, ownership details, and age verification, warning against what he called a silent exodus of the state's elephants. The incident revives past disputes between the two states, including the contentious case of the elephant Joymala.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a status report from the Punjab Police regarding the ongoing investigation into the suicide of Gulzar Singh. The direction came during the hearing of a public interest litigation seeking the transfer of the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Gulzar Singh, a resident of Tur Banjara village in the Dirba constituency, had died by suicide after raising concerns over drug abuse affecting his family and questioning Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. While a Special Investigation Team was earlier constituted by the state police to probe the matter, opposition parties have mounted sharp criticism against the Bhagwant Mann-led administration over the exclusion of the minister from the initial First Information Report. The High Court observed the need to ensure a proper investigation while seeking clarity on the progress made so far.

The US military has released newly declassified footage showing the dramatic rescue of Air Force weapons-systems officer DUDE 44 Bravo, whose F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by an Iranian missile near Isfahan on April 2.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority has cracked down on ride-hailing platform Rapido, imposing a fine of ten lakh rupees on its parent operator for deceptive digital practices known as dark patterns. An on-screen demonstration illustrates how the application prompts users to add extra tips ranging between ten and thirty rupees under the pretext that captains are declining standard fares. The consumer watchdog identified this mechanism as a form of confirm shaming and unfair interface manipulation designed to pressure commuters into paying extra amounts after initiating their bookings. The practice highlights how daily commuters are pushed into paying above the determined fare for essential travel. The regulatory body has sought accountability to safeguard consumer rights and curb manipulative user interface designs across transport platforms.