Vice President CP Radhakrishnan's Chennai residence received a bomb threat via email sent to the DGP's office, prompting immediate response from bomb disposal squad and sniffer dogs. The threat was declared a hoax after thorough searches found no explosives. This incident continues a disturbing pattern affecting prominent Tamil Nadu personalities including politicians and actors over recent days. Previous hoax threats targeted the Chief Minister's residence, Raj Bhavan, Madras High Court, and public figures like actress Trisha. All reported cases proved false, creating what authorities call a "menace" in the state. Law enforcement intensified investigations following strict protocols but perpetrators remain unidentified despite the repeated false alarms. 

Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma issued notification restricting firecracker use to two hours from 8pm to 10pm on October 20 during Kali Puja and Diwali, complying with Supreme Court, Calcutta High Court, and West Bengal Pollution Control Board orders. For Chhath Puja, firecrackers permitted 6am-8am on October 28. Only authorized green firecrackers allowed during specified periods. Violators face prosecution under existing law. Officers-in-charge directed to ensure compliance vigilance. However, Kolkata Police's noise-level testing initiative at Tala Park failed Wednesday when invited pollution-monitoring agencies like National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, and West Bengal Pollution Control Board didn't appear. Official Baji Bazar at Shahid Minar Maidan runs October 14-20.

A 21-year-old junior student, Jeevan Gowda, was arrested for allegedly raping his senior in a men’s washroom at a private Bengaluru engineering college on October 10, 2025. The seventh-semester survivor reported the incident five days later after informing her parents. According to the FIR, the accused lured her near the architecture block during lunch, forcibly kissed her, dragged her into the washroom, locked the door, and raped her. He also took her phone when it rang. The accused is now in judicial custody, while the college has not issued a public statement. (PC: NDTV)    

A grenade attack targeted an Indian Army camp in Kakopathar, Assam, injuring three soldiers and causing damage to camp buildings and vehicles. The explosive was reportedly thrown from a distance, prompting immediate evacuation of the injured to a nearby hospital. Security forces quickly cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to apprehend the attackers. Preliminary investigations suggest involvement of insurgent groups active in the region. Authorities are assessing the full extent of the damage and are investigating the motive behind the attack, while reinforcing security measures at vulnerable military installations. (PC: NDTV)

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar, a 2009-batch IPS officer from Punjab, for soliciting an ₹8 lakh bribe to settle a criminal case. During raids across Ropar, Mohali, and Chandigarh, the CBI seized approximately ₹5 crore in cash, 1.5 kg of gold and jewellery, two luxury vehicles (Mercedes and Audi), 22 high-end wristwatches, firearms, and 40 litres of imported liquor. Bhullar's associate, Krishna, was also arrested. Further investigations are underway to assess potential money laundering links. (PC: NDTV)

In a major victory against Naxalism, 170 Maoists surrendered in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, including Rupesh, a top commander and intelligence chief. They joined 27 others who surrendered the day before, while 61 extremists returned to the mainstream in Maharashtra, bringing the total to 258 in two days. Security forces seized AK-47s, INSAS rifles, SLRs, and carbines. The Home Minister said Abujhmad and North Bastar are now free from Naxal violence. Authorities continue urging remaining Maoists to surrender. This year, 1,639 Maoists have laid down arms in Chhattisgarh, marking a historic step in the fight against Left-Wing Extremism. (PC: NDTV)

In Uttarakhand’s Johar Valley, villagers are slowly returning to their ancestral Himalayan homes decades after the 1962 India-China conflict forced them to leave. The once-busy trade route with Tibet shut down, and villages like Martoli, Laspa, and Ghanghar were left deserted. Now, a few residents like 77-year-old Kishan Singh come back each summer to farm buckwheat and cumin. New roads and a small guesthouse for trekkers have brought fresh hope to the region. Though most homes remain in ruins, the return of even a few families signals a quiet revival of these forgotten mountain villages. (PC: Al Jazeera)

Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district have issued a search warrant against celebrity hairstylist Jawed Habib and his son, Anos Habib, in a multi-crore cryptocurrency fraud case. The two are accused of cheating over 100 investors by promising high returns through fake Bitcoin and Binance coin schemes under the company name Follicle Global. A police team searched Habib’s Delhi residence in New Friends Colony but did not find him there. His brother told police that Habib no longer lives at the address. Authorities said further investigation is underway to trace the suspects and recover investors’ money. (PC: India Today)

The father of a 23-year-old Durgapur medical student, who alleged rape, apologised to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday. He described her as a “mother-like figure” and asked her to help his daughter get justice. The apology comes two days after he criticised the state, saying it was under “Aurangzeb’s rule.” He said he will take his daughter back to Odisha once she is fit and demanded a CBI investigation into the case. Police have arrested six people, including the victim’s male friend, in connection with the assault, which has sparked major political debates in the state. (PC: HT)

Tension erupted in Baksa, Assam, on Wednesday as fans attacked police vehicles carrying five accused in singer Zubeen Garg’s death case. The accused, including event organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Garg’s manager Siddharth Sharma, cousin Sandipan Garg, and two PSOs, were sent to judicial custody. Protesters pelted stones at the convoy, damaged vehicles, and set one police van on fire. Police used tear gas and fired in the air to control the crowd. Security has been tightened around the jail. Garg, who died during a sea outing in Singapore on September 19, has sparked widespread outrage, prompting a Special Investigation Team probe. (PC: India Today)