The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has sent a ₹100 crore defamation notice to BJP MP Maneka Gandhi for her recent controversial statement accusing ISKCON of selling cows to butchers. ISKCON vice-president Radharamn Das said Maneka's comments were baseless and hurt devotees' sentiments globally. He added that ISKCON will legally pursue the case against the former union minister. In a viral video, Maneka alleged that ISKCON establishments sell cows to butchers despite taking government benefits for gaushalas, a claim ISKCON has denied.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah stated he will consult legal teams on future action regarding the Cauvery water release row, amid a statewide strike called by farmer groups and pro-Kannada outfits. 44 flights were canceled at Bengaluru airport as protesters blocked roads and transport. Pro-Kannada activists disrupted actor Siddharth’s promotional event demanding his exit, citing inappropriate timing given the water dispute. Additional police were deployed as strike actions intensified over the Supreme Court's refusal to interfere with Cauvery regulating bodies' order to release water to Tamil Nadu. The tense situation has triggered large-scale disruption.

Curfew has been relaxed in Imphal from 5am to 11pm on Friday after a tense night following violent clashes and an attempt to attack Manipur CM N Biren Singh's unoccupied ancestral residence. The relaxation was to allow buying of essentials but mass gatherings remain prohibited. On Thursday night, a mob tried to attack the CM's vacant ancestral home despite heavy security, but forces foiled the bid after firing tear gas shells. Many were injured in clashes between protesters and security personnel at various Imphal spots. A house was also torched in Imphal East by a mob late Thursday.

Train operations were affected in Punjab as farmers' 'rail roko' agitation entered the 2nd day demanding a financial package for flood losses, MSP guarantee, withdrawal of protest cases, and compensation for deceased farmers. Some trains were canceled, diverted, or short-terminated due to the 3-day stir by groups like the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. Protesters squatted on tracks at 17 places including Moga, Amritsar, and Bathinda. In Hoshiarpur, Azad Kisan Committee members sat on dharna at the railway station. The stir left many passengers stranded in Punjab and Haryana. Farmers said the agitation against the Centre will continue till September 30 if demands are not met.

On the first day of the Karnataka bandh called by Kannada Okkuta over Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu, 44 flights were canceled within 6 hours at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. 5 pro-Kannada activists were detained when they tried to enter the airport with a Karnataka flag and caused a ruckus. Under Section 144, prohibitory orders were imposed in several districts with schools and colleges shut. Most shops and businesses downed shutters across Karnataka as private vehicles stayed off roads in Cauvery basin areas. Multiplexes and theatres also canceled shows backing the 12-hour state-wide bandh.

M.S. Swaminathan, the pioneering agricultural scientist known as the "Father of India's Green Revolution," died on Thursday in Chennai at the age of 98. Swaminathan, a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, worked closely with government leaders in the 1960s and 70s to spearhead the Green Revolution, helping transform India's food security through the adaptation of new technologies. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced Swaminathan will receive a state funeral with police honors recognizing his immense contributions. Prime Minister Modi expressed condolences, stating Swaminathan's groundbreaking work improved the lives of millions. He is survived by three daughters.

A shocking incident occurred in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad where a woman, Alka Pathak, lost Rs 18 lakh kept in a bank locker due to termite infestation. Pathak had saved the money for her daughter's wedding and stored the cash at Bank of Baroda's Ashiana branch locker last October. Recently, when bank staff asked her to renew the locker agreement, she was devastated to find termites had destroyed the entire cash saved for her daughter's marriage plans. It remains unclear if Pathak will receive compensation for her wedding savings destroyed by the termites in violation of cash storage norms.

A mob tried to attack Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh's unoccupied ancestral residence on the outskirts of Imphal amid ongoing violence, despite security clampdown. Forces successfully pushed back the mob after firing tear gas shells. The CM resides in a separate well-guarded official home. The attack attempt followed overnight student protests regarding two teen-age students' killings, and mob vandalism of a Deputy Commissioner's office. To disperse the ancestral home attackers, security forces fired rounds in the air, cut off electricity to reduce visibility, and installed more barricades. 

The prime accused in the rape of the 12-year-old girl in Ujjain has been arrested after he unsuccessfully tried to flee while police took him to the crime spot to gather evidence. The accused Bharat Soni, an autorickshaw driver, was chased and nabbed by cops when he attempted to escape, sustaining injuries. CCTV footage showed the traumatized victim seeking help after the assault. Police used technical surveillance and CCTV analysis to identify the main perpetrator. The girl is recovering in hospital but unable to provide a statement yet. The arrest follows outrage over the horrifying visuals of the begging, bleeding rape survivor being turned away by residents.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in Madhya Pradesh following a brutal rape case involving a 12-year-old victim in Ujjain. She expressed outrage, stating that girls, women, tribals, and Dalits are not safe under the BJP's "misrule." Priyanka Gandhi questioned the effectiveness of initiatives like 'Ladli Behna' if girls cannot receive protection and assistance. Meanwhile, the Congress accused the Madhya Pradesh BJP government of failing to safeguard the dignity of women and girls. Home Minister Narottam Mishra announced the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the case.