A 19-year-old student of Government Degree College in Dharamshala died on December 26 after allegedly being ragged, physically assaulted and sexually harassed, her father told police in a complaint. The incident reportedly occurred on September 18, 2025, involving three senior female students and a college professor, identified as Ashok Kumar. Before her death, the victim recorded a distressing video from her hospital bed detailing inappropriate touching and mental harassment by the accused. Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Himachal Pradesh anti-ragging laws against all four individuals, and an investigation is ongoing.   

Police in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, have registered an FIR against a college professor and three senior women students for ragging, physical assault and sexual harassment in connection with the death of a 19-year-old student, police said. The victim’s father alleged his daughter was beaten and intimidated by seniors Harshita, Aakriti and Komolika on September 18, 2025, and subjected to obscene acts by Professor Ashok Kumar, leaving her traumatised. She was treated at multiple hospitals and later died during treatment on December 26, 2025. The FIR was filed under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Himachal Pradesh Ragging Act; investigations are ongoing. (PC: The Hindu)

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav took strict action over the Indore water contamination crisis that has left many residents ill and caused multiple deaths, removing the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) Additional Commissioner and relieving the water works engineer of duty. Yadav, after reviewing the situation with senior officials, also issued show-cause notices to key civic administrators as anger grows over alleged negligence in managing water supply infrastructure. Water samples reportedly showed harmful bacterial contamination, prompting public health concerns and debate over accountability for the crisis. (PC: PTI)

A one-horned rhinoceros calf was born on January 1 at Jaldapara National Park in West Bengal, officials said. The newborn was first seen by forest staff on patrolling elephants during routine rounds. Jaldapara is home to India’s second-largest rhino population after Kaziranga in Assam. Forest officers said the calf will be closely tracked as part of the park’s regular monitoring system. Each birth is recorded to ensure the safety of the mother and the young animal. The park follows strict rules to guard rhinos from harm and illegal activity. Authorities said such births show that habitat care and protection work in the reserve is helping the species survive. 

The Centre has issued draft rules that set minimum work days for gig and platform workers to qualify for social security benefits. The labour ministry said workers must be engaged for at least 90 days in a financial year with one aggregator. Those working with more than one platform will need 120 days in total. A worker will be treated as engaged on any day they earn income, no matter the amount. If a person works for three aggregators on one day, it will count as three days. The notice came just before a New Year’s Eve strike by gig workers over pay and conditions. (PC: HT)

Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced that the national capital recorded its best air quality in eight years in 2025, with significant declines in particulate pollution compared to 2024. PM2.5 levels dropped from 104 µg/m³ to 96, and PM10 from 212 µg/m³ to 197, while the city logged nearly 200 days with an AQI under 200, including 79 days in the ‘good’ or ‘satisfactory’ range. Only eight ‘severe’ pollution days were recorded, the lowest in recent years. The government credited science-led interventions on vehicular emissions, dust, industry and waste management for the improvements. (PC: PTI)

 A 50-year-old Hindu businessman, Khokon Chandra Das, was brutally assaulted by a mob in Shariatpur’s Damudya area on New Year’s Eve, stabbed repeatedly and doused with petrol before being set ablaze while returning home from his pharmacy shop, local reports say. Das survived by jumping into a nearby pond and was rushed to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital before being transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment with serious burn and stab wounds. Police have identified some suspects, but motives remain unclear. The attack marks the fourth incident targeting the Hindu minority in two weeks, intensifying concerns over rising violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala temple gold theft has informed the Kollam Vigilance Court that the scale of the crime appears much bigger than earlier believed. Beyond the previously identified missing gold from door frames and Dwarapalaka idols, investigators say multiple gold-clad panels, including those with sacred figures and decorative motifs, were removed and likely siphoned off during replating. Only about 584 g of gold has been recovered so far, far less than the estimated original quantities. Scientific analysis of temple artefact samples is underway to determine the true extent of the loss. (PC: MSN)

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal responded to a nationwide gig workers’ strike call on New Year’s Eve by highlighting that Zomato and its quick-commerce arm Blinkit achieved record delivery volumes — over 75 lakh orders on December 31, despite protest actions. He said operations were largely unaffected, crediting delivery partners and local authorities for smooth execution. Goyal disputed claims that the system is fundamentally unfair, urging people not to be swayed by “vested interests” and saying millions still choose gig work. He acknowledged the system isn’t perfect but insisted portrayals of exploitation are misleading while framing platform work as significant job creation. (PC: Mint)

A tragic incident in Indore’s Bhagirathpura has left a five-month-old infant, Avyaan, dead after his parents mixed municipal tap water with packaged milk on medical advice — unaware the water was contaminated. The baby developed fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, and died en route to the hospital. The family alleges the Narmada water supply was polluted, contributing to his illness. Residents in the area have reported foul-smelling water, with multiple deaths and illnesses linked to contaminated drinking water, raising urgent health and infrastructure concerns. (PC: NDTV)