The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) raided over 30 places across the state to stop the illegal trade of codeine-based cough syrups. In Lucknow, officials seized syrups worth ₹3 lakh and arrested a man named Deepak Manwani. He had brought the syrups from Gujarat, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh and sold them locally at high prices. Manwani also admitted sending supplies to Nepal and Bangladesh. FSDA said more arrests are likely. The raids follow recent child deaths in Madhya Pradesh linked to toxic cough syrups, prompting tighter action across states. (PC: ANI Video Grab)

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee described the alleged gang-rape of a second-year MBBS student in Durgapur as “shocking,” and assured that no accused will be spared. She urged private colleges to bolster campus security and questioned how the victim was wandering late at night. Authorities have arrested three suspects and are searching for others, with drones deployed in the manhunt. The victim’s father, worried about her safety in Bengal, said he would move her back to Odisha. (PC: PTI)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sparked controversy Sunday by questioning why a Durgapur medical student was "out at 12:30 AM" when commenting on her gang rape. The second-year MBBS student from Odisha was allegedly assaulted behind the hospital building Friday evening after leaving campus around 8:30 PM. Banerjee stated private medical colleges should protect students and suggested "girl students should not be allowed outside at night-time" and must "protect themselves also." Three accused have been arrested with searches ongoing. While vowing zero tolerance and strict punishment, the CM's victim-blaming remarks drew immediate criticism. Police are reviewing CCTV footage and questioning multiple individuals including college staff.

A heartbreaking incident from Chhattisgarh's Sarragondi village captured a woman in tears after a decades-old Peepal tree she nurtured for twenty years was ruthlessly cut down for alleged financial gain. The emotional scene highlights the deep bond between humans and nature, and the devastating impact of its destruction. The woman's anguish represents lost faith and emotional attachment to the sacred tree she had cared for over two decades. The incident serves as a painful reminder of society's fading connection with nature and the increasing prioritization of financial interests over environmental and emotional values. The viral moment has sparked conversations about tree protection and community bonds with nature.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sparked controversy Sunday by stating "a girl child at night-time shouldn't be allowed to come outside" while addressing the gang rape at a private medical college near hospital premises. Banerjee called the incident "shocking" and promised "no one will be excused," but shifted responsibility to the private institution rather than her government. She questioned why her administration was being singled out, citing a gang rape incident at Odisha's Puri beach nearly a month ago. "They have to protect themselves also," Banerjee said, drawing immediate criticism for victim-blaming. Her comments deflected accountability while imposing restrictions on women's freedom rather than addressing systemic safety failures.

India launched the National Red List Assessment initiative to fulfill commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh unveiled Vision 2025-2030, aiming to assess extinction risks of 11,000 species, including 7,000 flora and 4,000 fauna across diverse ecosystems. Announced at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, the framework, prepared by Zoological and Botanical Survey of India with IUCN-India, will establish a nationally coordinated red-listing system. India, among 17 megadiverse countries, harbors 8% of global flora and 7.5% fauna despite occupying only 2.4% of world's land. The initiative targets publishing National Red Data Books by 2030 for evidence-based conservation planning. (PC: X)

A Bengaluru IT employee's work-from-home request was rejected despite submitting her mother's MRI report as justification. The company cited "limited bandwidth" as the reason for denying her plea to work remotely during a family medical emergency. The incident has sparked discussions about workplace policies and employee empathy in India's corporate sector. The employee had provided medical documentation to support her request for flexible working arrangements while caring for her ailing mother. The company's decision to prioritize operational constraints over personal circumstances has raised questions about work-life balance and compassionate leave policies in the IT industry, highlighting ongoing debates about remote work flexibility post-pandemic. (PC: Shutterstock)

A remarkable video from Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur district has gone viral, showing a man carrying a massive 20-foot-long, 150-kg live crocodile on his shoulder. The reptile had been causing panic among villagers for three weeks. Forest department officials, with the help of locals, successfully captured the crocodile after days of monitoring. Before transporting it, the official secured the animal's mouth and limbs with cloth and rope. The crocodile was then relocated to its natural habitat, the Yamuna River. 

West Bengal police have arrested three men in connection with the gang rape of a 23-year-old MBBS student near a private medical college in Durgapur. The survivor, originally from Jaleswar, Odisha, was walking out with a male friend when four to five assailants accosted them near the college gate and dragged her to a secluded spot about one kilometre away, where she was assaulted. The perpetrators also snatched her phone and took ₹5,000. The friend is under interrogation, as the victim’s family suspects his involvement. Meanwhile, the victim is being treated at a hospital and is said to be recovering.     

The father of the RG Kar rape-murder victim criticized the West Bengal government following Friday's alleged rape of a 23-year-old medical student near Durgapur's private medical college campus. He questioned the administration's failure to protect doctors and challenged NCRB data labeling Kolkata as India's safest city. "They are doctors, first-class citizens, and the government cannot ensure their safety. Those unable to protect them should resign," he stated. The Durgapur victim from Odisha's Jaleswar was allegedly abducted by unknown men and raped in a nearby forest after her friend fled. Police have registered an FIR and launched investigations. Last year's RG Kar case saw Sanjay Roy sentenced to life imprisonment. (PC: X)