Wing Commander Namansh Syal was given a hero’s farewell in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district on Sunday. He died on November 21 after his Tejas LCA Mk-1 crashed during a show at the Dubai Airshow. His wife, Wing Commander Afshan Akhtar, an IAF officer, bid him a heartbreaking goodbye while their six-year-old daughter stood by her side. IAF officers honoured him with a gun salute as villagers and officials paid their final respects. Syal, remembered as a dedicated and skilled fighter pilot, was commissioned in 2009. A court of inquiry is looking into the cause of the crash. (PC: HT)

Ladakh’s Leh Apex Body (LAB) has made the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk its foremost demand before resuming talks with the Centre. The group stated that without Wangchuk’s freedom and a general amnesty for all individuals detained following the September 24 violence, dialogue cannot move forward. LAB leaders stressed that Wangchuk’s detention has created deep mistrust among locals and is seen as a major obstacle to restoring peace. They also reiterated broader demands, including statehood for Ladakh and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. Until the government responds, LAB says negotiations will remain on hold. (PC: X)

Wing Commander Afshan tearfully paid her final respects to her husband, Wing Commander Namansh Syal, whose Tejas aircraft tragically crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show. His body was brought to his ancestral village, Patialkar in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, where he was cremated with full military honours, including a gun salute. In a heart-wrenching moment, Afshan—also an IAF officer—stood in uniform, fighting back tears, and saluted her late husband. The Indian Air Force remembered him as a dedicated pilot with “unwavering commitment, exceptional skill, and an unyielding sense of duty.” 

Bengaluru police have arrested the seventh accused in the ₹7.11 crore ATM-van robbery, bringing the total number of arrested suspects to seven. The new suspect is related to one of the earlier detainees. During the kidnapping-like operation on November 19, the robbers impersonated Income Tax and RBI officials to intercept a CMS-operated cash van. Authorities have so far recovered ₹6.29 crore of the stolen amount. Multiple investigation teams, including 200 personnel, are working to track down the remaining culprits. (PC: The Hindu)

The mortal remains of Wing Commander Namansh Syal reached his native village in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday. The Indian Air Force pilot died on November 21 when the Tejas fighter jet he was flying at the Dubai Air Show lost control and crashed. His body arrived at Kangra airport and was taken to his village, Patiyalkar, for the final rites. Before this, his remains were kept at Sulur Air Force Station in Tamil Nadu, where tributes were paid by officials and IAF personnel. Syal, 34, was a skilled pilot and a former Sainik School student. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and parents.

A study in Bihar found small amounts of uranium in breastmilk samples from 40 mothers. This raised concern among families. But senior nuclear scientist Dr Dinesh K Aswal has said the levels are safe and far below the World Health Organization limit. He told NDTV that there is no health risk for mothers or infants. Another expert, Dr Ashok Sharma of AIIMS, also said the impact is likely very low. Scientists say breastfeeding should continue, as its benefits are much greater. Tiny amounts of uranium are common in soil and water. Experts have urged calm and clear public communication. (PC: NDTV)

The probe into the Red Fort blast that killed 10 people has led investigators to a suspected “white collar” terror module. Several accused, including doctors, were linked to Al Falah University in Faridabad. Officials say the group raised ₹26 lakh to plan the attack and spent two years collecting explosives and remote devices. Three doctors have been arrested so far. Another suspect is believed to be in Afghanistan. Investigators also found links to Indian Mujahideen fugitive Mirza Shadab Baig, a former student of the university. The university’s founder is also under scrutiny for alleged money laundering of over ₹415 crore. (PC: HT)

In Uttarakhand’s Almora district, police recovered 161 gelatin sticks, weighing over 20 kg, from bushes near a government high school in Dabra village. The explosives were first spotted by school children and reported by the principal, prompting a full-scale operation involving bomb-disposal and dog squads from nearby districts. Authorities have registered an FIR under the Explosive Substances Act and initiated a detailed probe into how and why the sticks were placed there. (PC: NDTV)

Civil society groups and political activists in West Bengal are raising the alarm about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, warning it could trigger “the largest disenfranchisement of voters in history.” They argue that millions — especially the poor, minorities, and backward communities — may be permanently removed from voter lists if they fail to submit their enumeration forms by December 4. Critics liken the process to a “bloodless political genocide” and claim it serves as a backdoor entry point for a citizenship-type registry, echoing earlier citizen-verification controversies. (PC: The Hindu)

The Indian Air Force mourned the loss of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who died when his Tejas jet crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai Air Show. The IAF described him as a “dedicated fighter pilot” with exceptional skill, unwavering commitment, and an unyielding sense of duty. Syal’s dignified persona earned him widespread respect, evident during a solemn send-off attended by UAE officials, colleagues, and Indian embassy representatives. He is survived by his wife (also in the Air Force), their six-year-old daughter, and his parents. A court of inquiry has been launched to investigate the cause. (PC: India Today)