Thieves struck overnight at the apple nursery of a poor, physically challenged farmer in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Shopian district and decamped with 400 high density young apple trees.

This is yet another incident in the series of apple tree thefts in the district, which is famous for producing the best quality apples in Kashmir.

Apple farmers, during the last decade, have been shifting from yielding variety apple trees to high density trees those give fruit within one to two years after bring planted.

For their early fruit yielding character and convenient management, the high density apple trees are in great demand in the Valley and one such tree costs between Rs 200 to Rs 400 depending on the variety of the fruit.

Officials said that more than 400 high density apple trees were stolen from the orchard of a physically challenged farmer in Shopian district.

In a tragic road accident in Bengaluru Rural district on Friday, at least four people, including two children, were killed following a collision between an Andhra Pradesh RTC bus and a truck. Sixteen individuals were injured in the accident, with two are currently in a critical condition.

The deceased have been identified as 44-year-old Keshava Reddy, 21-year-old Tulasi, four-year-old Pranathi, and a one-year-old baby Maria. The police stated that all the deceased hailed from Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh.

The incident occurred at Gottipura Gate in Hoskote taluk, on the outskirts of Bengaluru city, along the National Highway between Kolar and Hoskote.

According to police, the bus, belonging to the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, was travelling from Tirupati towards Bengaluru.

The bus driver reportedly lost control while overtaking and crashed into the back of the truck, which was also heading towards Bengaluru.

As the nation reels from the devastating crash of Air India Flight AI-171, grief is pouring in from households across India, where families are mourning loved ones lost in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters.

Among the 241 people killed in the air crash, the pain is especially raw in Kurukshetra, Vadodara, and Kheda district of Gujarat.

Anju Sharma, originally from Kurukshetra, had been living in Vadodara with her family. She was on her way to London to visit her elder daughter when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on June 12 and rammed into a doctor's hostel nearby.

Her uncle, Balkishan Sharma, deeply shaken, said, “I rarely watch TV. She was my brother’s eldest daughter. I found out about the tragedy from the news.”

An Air India flight AI-171 travelling from Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick Airport crashed just minutes after takeoff on Thursday, prompting the closure of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport for all operations.

The plan crashed into a residential hostel for intern doctors shortly after takeoff, igniting a massive blaze and leaving a trail of destruction.

More than eight people are suspected dead, with dozens more injured or missing.

According to preliminary reports, the aircraft's wing clipped the third, fourth and fifth floors of the multi-storey hostel building near Meghani Nagar.

A London-bound Air India aircraft carrying 130 passengers crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport. This took place near Meghaninagar area in Ahmedabad.

Visuals from the crash site showed thick plume of grey smoking rising from the ground.

Firefighters and emergency teams were dispatched immediately to begin rescue and containment efforts. Officials are yet to release information about possible injuries or the cause of the crash.

Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area as operations are still underway.

The Gujarat government has officially closed all 27 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the state to tourists for a period of four months, from June 16 to October 15.

This annual closure aims to protect wildlife during the crucial breeding season, particularly mammals, birds, and reptiles, by minimising human interference. A notification was recently issued by the office of the Conservator of Forests in Gandhinagar, following a directive from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.

The decision reiterates the state's commitment to conservation by ensuring that the habitats remain undisturbed during this sensitive phase of the animal life cycle.

As part of this closure, popular destinations like Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary in Sanand will also remain off-limits to visitors for the entire 120-day period. Tourist access will resume after October 15, 2025, once the mating and nesting activities conclude.

Tension prevailed in the Maheshtala area of South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, as police crackdown on protesters continued on Thursday. So far, 18 have been arrested.

The arrests were made during a joint operation by the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police, which started on Wednesday night and continued till Thursday morning in connection with the clashes that broke out on Wednesday afternoon.

While 14 were arrested on Wednesday night only, the remaining four were arrested early Thursday morning, a senior official of the state police confirmed.

However, the overall situation in the Maheshtala area continued to be quite tense, with most of the shops remaining closed even on Thursday morning.

Delhi-NCR reeled under an intense heatwave on Thursday as temperatures remained dangerously high, touching 36 degrees Celsius by 10 A.M., with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a 'Red Alert' for the national Capital and surrounding areas.

The IMD warned that the sweltering heat would persist throughout the day, with maximum temperatures expected to hover between 43 and 45 degrees Celsius. A gradual decline in temperature is anticipated from Friday, June 13.

The 'Red Alert', the highest-level warning issued by the IMD, urges residents to take serious precautions such as staying hydrated, avoiding direct Sun exposure, and limiting outdoor movement during peak heat hours.

People across the city shared their struggle with the punishing weather.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a massive crackdown on Thursday in connection with a Rs 2,700 crore money laundering case involving a real estate scheme. The ED conducted raids at approximately 24 locations across Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

According to agency sources, the ongoing investigation is linked to a large-scale financial fraud related to a real estate scheme named Red Nexa Evergreen.

In Rajasthan, ED teams carried out operations in cities including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Sikar, and Jhunjhunu.

Simultaneous raids were also conducted in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and parts of Delhi. The crackdown is being executed under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

In a shocking incident, a woman Constable was killed and two other on-duty officers were grievously injured after being rammed by a speeding Scorpio SUV on the four-lane Atal Path under the jurisdiction of Sri Krishnapuri police station in the early hours of Thursday.

Confirming the incident, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Avkash Kumar said that two individuals, including the SUV driver, have been arrested.

The vehicle has also been seized for further investigation. What has raised eyebrows is the presence of a powerful political party's flag on the vehicle, suggesting possible political links with the ruling coalition.

According to an official, the incident occurred at around 12:30 AM during a special night vehicle checking campaign aimed at curbing criminal activities in the city.

A Scorpio travelling at an estimated speed of 90 kmph from the Digha side was signalled to stop for checking by the police team.

Delhi continues to reel under an intense heatwave as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the national capital on Wednesday.

With temperatures already touching 36 degrees Celsius at India Gate by 9.30 a.m., the day is expected to bring even more discomfort to residents as the mercury is projected to climb further.

The IMD has warned that daytime temperatures in Delhi could reach as high as 45 degrees Celsius, with night-time lows hovering around 29 degrees Celsius, providing little relief even after sunset. The ongoing weather conditions are part of a prolonged heatwave affecting large parts of northwestern India.

"Very hot weather conditions are likely to persist over Delhi till at least June 12," the IMD said in its latest bulletin.

A bride among five others lost their lives in a devastating road accident on Wednesday at the Dausa-Manoharpur highway (NH-148) near Bhatkabas village in Jaipur Rural, Rajasthan, while eight others, including the groom, were left injured.

The accident occurred around 6.10 a.m. when a speeding truck collided head-on with a jeep carrying 'baraatis' returning from Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh.

The impact of the collision was so severe that the jeep was shattered, with the bodies of the victims badly trapped inside. It took considerable effort to retrieve them. Among the deceased is 18-year-old bride Bharti, wife of Vikram Meena, a resident of Mandoli in Shahdol district.

The groom, Vikram Meena (25), a native of Udaipurwati in Jhunjhunu district, sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at NIMS Hospital along with other injured baraatis.

In a significant breakthrough in curbing street crime in the National Capital, the South West Delhi District Police have arrested two habitual snatchers and one receiver of stolen goods.

The arrests were made by a joint team from the Anti-Snatching Cell and Police Station Safdarjung Enclave, following a detailed investigation into a series of snatching incidents in the area. With this action, four cases of gold chain snatching have been successfully worked out.

According to the South West District Police, “Two notorious snatchers cum B.Cs. of PS Ambedkar Nagar namely Anil, Arun and one receiver of stolen property, Mohd Imran, have been arrested. The accused were involved in a series of chain snatchings and are repeat offenders.”

 With the 61-day annual fishing ban in Tamil Nadu, which began on April 15, set to end on June 14, fishermen across the state are raising concerns over falling seafood prices and demanding government intervention to protect their livelihoods.

In Rameswaram, fishers have urged the state government to constitute a price-setting committee to ensure fair pricing, especially for shrimp.

“Fishermen toil all day at sea, but it’s unfortunate that they are unable to fetch a satisfactory price for their catch,” said X. Nallathambi, president of the National Traditional Fishermen Federation.

Traditionally, high-quality shrimp caught off Rameswaram and Mandapam are sold for up to Rs 700 per kilogram during peak season. However, in the immediate days following the lifting of the fishing ban, exporters are reportedly fixing prices as low as Rs 300 per kilogram, causing heavy financial losses for small-scale fishers.

The Centre has sanctioned a Rs 4224.23 crore package for 316 road projects in Jammu and Kashmir under PMGSY-IV, which is the biggest ever package for the union territory so far since the national flagship rural road development programme was started.

Under the PMGSY-IV programme, a rural habitation as small as 250 human beings will get road connectivity through a total length of 1781.33 km.

The majority of 316 road projects under PMGSY-IV in J&K will benefit the Jammu division, as this division is still poorly connected as compared to the Kashmir division.

While expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said that the approved 1781 km road length will provide a major boost to rural road connectivity and usher in a new era of prosperity in the far-flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

A picnic trip turned tragic in Rajasthan's Tonk when eight friends lost their lives in the Banas River near Kachcha Bandh on Tuesday afternoon.

The group from Jaipur had gone to the river for a picnic when the incident occurred.

According to Superintendent of Police Vikas Sangwan, a total of 11 young men entered the river, of which eight drowned, while three were rescued by local residents.

Rescue teams and police personnel quickly reached the scene after receiving the alert.

SP Sangwan said that the victims were all friends aged between 25 to 35 years, and had come from Hasanpura, Ghatgate, Ramganj, and Panipech areas of Jaipur.

Two people were found murdered on Tuesday morning near the Majhauli-Singhara rural road under Bikram police station on the outskirts of Patna, triggering concerns about rising crime in the area. Earlier, on Monday three members of a family were shot at, with a mother-daughter duo losing their life in the drive-by shooting. These back-to-back murders in the last 24 hours have raised concerns about the law and order situation in Bihar.

Confirming the development, Patna SSP Awakash Kumar said that the villagers alerted the police about the presence of the bodies of two men lying by the roadside.

A police team promptly reached the spot and recovered the bullet-riddled bodies.

The deceased have been identified as Sonu Kumar and Roshan Kumar, both residents of Bagha Kol in Patna. Sonu has a criminal background and he was allegedly involved in the murder case of Chokidar in 2022.

A massive fire broke out in a residential building in Delhi's Dwarka Sector-13 on Tuesday morning, killing three members of a family, a father and his two 10-year-old children, after they jumped from their 9th-floor flat in a desperate attempt to escape the flames.

The incident occurred at the Shapath Society near MRV School, where flames reportedly engulfed the 8th and 9th floors around 9:58 A.M.

People panicked, causing a rush in the area but most residents were safely evacuated from the building.

However, when the family jumped from their flat in panic, the people tried to save them but were not successful in doing so.

Eight fire tenders and a sky lift were rushed to the spot by the fire department, which carried out rescue operations and evacuated all residents from the building.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has issued an orange alert for the Ghat areas of Coimbatore and the Nilgiris between June 13 and 15, forecasting heavy rainfall of up to 20.4 cm during the period.

The alert comes as Tamil Nadu begins to witness the revival of the southwest monsoon after a prolonged spell of intense summer heat.

An orange alert is issued when heavy rainfall is anticipated, typically exceeding 115.6 mm and up to 204.4 mm within 24 hours, and indicates a heightened risk of flooding.

After days of soaring temperatures, parts of the north interior Tamil Nadu and Chennai have received welcome relief with sudden afternoon showers. Localities such as Mylapore, Chintadripet, Anna Nagar, Adyar, and Chepauk experienced sharp rainfall from around 2.30 p.m. on Monday, leading to a dramatic drop in temperature. The day’s maximum fell from 38 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees by 4.00 p.m., aided by overcast skies and cool winds.

The family of Raj Kushwaha, who has been accused as the alleged mastermind in the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, has come out in his defence, asserting that he is innocent and incapable of committing such a crime.

On Monday, his family members said Raj, who is the only earning member in the household, was being falsely implicated and had no relationship with Sonam Raghuvanshi, Raja's wife, beyond a professional one.

Speaking to reporters, Raj's mother stated, "My son is innocent. The police just took him. The police are lying, and there is no truth in those claims. My son could never do that. He has the responsibility for his sisters. He used to work very hard. I do not believe any of this."

The family consists of Raj's mother and his three sisters, as his father passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Mumbai Police’s Kurar unit have busted a gang of robbers and arrested four accused, said officials here on Tuesday.

During police interrogation, it was revealed that the accused are history sheeters. The gang also had a woman member.

One of the accused, Abdul Ansari alias Appu Khota, a resident of Goregaon East, has more than 47 robbery cases registered against him. The other three accused have been identified as Deepali Bhul alias Deepali Sharma, Suraj Jadhav and Akash Pawar.

The officials said that the accused, Suraj Jadhav, is an auto-rickshaw driver living in the Malad area. He used to provide information to the other accused about which houses were locked.

The gang would then target and rob those empty houses. Appu Khota is the main accused who guided his associates, said the officials.

Close on the heels of the tragic Raja Raghuvanshi murder case in Meghalaya that rocked the nation, a shocking incident came to light from Bengaluru on Monday, where a software professional fatally stabbed his married lover 17 times as she was unable to meet him often after her husband became suspicious.

The incident occurred recently in an OYO hotel room located in Poornaprajna Layout, within the limits of the Subramanyapura police station, according to police.

The deceased has been identified as 36-year-old Harini, and the accused as Yashas, a techie.

According to the police, Harini was married with two children and was having an extramarital affair with the accused.

Police investigations revealed that Yashas and Harini met at a fair, exchanged numbers, and began chatting. Their relationship progressed to dating and eventually involved physical intimacy. Meanwhile, Harini's husband grew suspicious, confiscated her phone, and restricted her from leaving their residence.

Normal life was badly affected in five valley districts of Manipur on Monday due to the indefinite curfew and 10-day shutdown, called by the Meitei radical outfit Arambai Tenggol.

To control the prevailing situation, the state government has banned mobile Internet and data services on Saturday midnight for five days and imposed an indefinite curfew in five Imphal valley districts -- Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching.

Arambai Tenggol has called the 10-day shutdown in Manipur from Sunday to protest against the arrest of their leader by central security agencies.

Arambai Tenggol leader Ashem Kanan Singh (46) was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Imphal for his criminal activities which include several acts of grave nature and involvement in unlawful activities and criminal cases registered against him, a police statement said on Sunday.

Influenced by the ongoing Lon Varratu (Come Back Home) campaign, seven Maoists, including two carrying rewards, surrendered in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district.

Among those who laid down arms were Juglu alias Sundum Kovasi and Dasha alias Burku Podiyam, both of whom had a bounty of Rs 50,000 announced by the Chhattisgarh government. These surrendered Maoists had been actively involved in various regional committees, participating in activities such as digging roads, cutting trees, and putting up banners and posters during the Naxal bandh, police officials said.

The surrender marks a significant success for the Naxal Eradication Campaign led by Inspector General of Police Sundarraj P, Deputy Inspector General Kamalochan Kashyap, and Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai. Under the rehabilitation policy of the Chhattisgarh government, authorities have been working to integrate these former extremists into mainstream society. Extensive awareness efforts, including village-level publicity, have resulted in many Maoists choosing to abandon their militant activities.

Gujarat Environment Management Institute (GEMI), under the Forest and Environment Department, concluded a statewide campaign themed #BeatPlasticPollution, which ran from May 22 to June 5. According to data released on Friday, as many as 1,640 citizens came together to clean 12 beaches across Gujarat, collecting more than 18,350 kgs of waste, including large quantities of plastic.

The campaign saw public participation across beaches, urban neighborhoods, and villages, aiming to reduce plastic pollution and promote sustainable lifestyles.

Clean-up activities were conducted at coastal sites including Dwarka, Shivrajpur, Umargam, Dandi, Dumas, Mahuva, Porbandar, and Ravalpir.

In a major breakthrough, Punjab Police’s Counter Intelligence of Amritsar apprehended two people, Sukhchain Singh and Jugraj Singh, who were actively involved in cross-border arms smuggling and recovered eight weapons, police said on Friday.

Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, said that acting on specific Intelligence, these operatives were intercepted while transporting a consignment of illegal arms from Pakistan-based smuggler Noor.

The DGP wrote on social media handle X that three Glock 9mm pistols, four Px5 pistols and one .30 bore pistol were seized.

"A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in Amritsar. Further investigation is underway to identify additional handlers and unearth the full extent of this smuggling network," the DGP added.

The Forest Department in Gujarat has taken action against five individuals caught attempting to spot lions illegally in the Kodiya Vedma area of the Khambha Tulsishyam range in Dhari Gir East.

According to officials, forest patrol teams intercepted a car late at night on June 5 in the protected Kodiya VD zone.

The group, which included two individuals from Bhavnagar and three from Khambha, had entered the restricted area without permission in an attempt to sight lions.

Acting under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the Department imposed a fine of Rs 90,000 on the offenders. A formal case has also been registered against them.

The police on Friday intensified their hunt for four more accused persons in connection with the stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives.

Earlier, four people, including the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Marketing Head and DNA Event Management Company staffers, were arrested at the airport.

The personnel from the Cubbon Park police, who registered the case, and a special wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) are conducting a joint operation.

According to sources, the hunt is on for Rajesh Menon, Head and Vice President of RCB; K.T. Majeed, Director and Chief Financial Officer of DNA Event Management Firm; Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Secretary A. Shankar; and Treasurer Jayaram.

The mystery surrounding the recent unknown animal bite incidents appears to be nearing resolution with the discovery of a jackal carcass near Limbai village in Rajpur tehsil of Barwani district.

While this revelation may bring some clarity, fear continues to grip Sendhwa village following a new wave of animal attacks on Wednesday.

Residents remain anxious about their safety despite medical confirmation that the latest incident involved a dog and not a wild animal.

Eight persons were attacked and severely bitten, four of whom were transferred to Maharaja Yashwant Rao Holkar Medical College and Hospital in Indore for further treatment.

The Jamnagar Municipal Corporation (JMC) in Gujarat has completed a phase of its urban development plan by finishing the demolition of 355 structures belonging to 331 residents for a road-widening project between Swaminarayan Nagar and Gandhinagar.

The demolition drive, which began on May 31, concluded on June 4, paving the way for a 12-meter-wide, 3.5 km stretch.

Officials informed that two dedicated teams have been deployed to clear the debris along the route, ensuring that the newly opened road is fully accessible. Officials confirmed that the entire demolition and debris removal process is being finalised, with the road now open for basic public use.

In the next phase, the JMC is set to begin immediate infrastructure upgrades, including the construction of road dividers, traffic markings, and a new paver surface. Once complete, the newly widened road is expected to greatly ease congestion and improve commute times for over two lakh residents in the surrounding areas.

At least seven people lost their lives in a tragic accident at Sohagi Pahadi, an accident-prone area in Rewa district, on the Madhya Pradesh-Uttar Pradesh border.

The disaster occurred when a truck carrying cement poles overturned onto an auto-rickshaw, resulting in seven fatalities and two injuries.

The accident took place around 12.30 p.m. on Thursday, as confirmed by Udit Mishra, the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Teonthar, a tehsil in Rewa district.

“The auto-rickshaw, carrying passengers returning from Prayagraj, was struck by the truck, which was also travelling from the same city toward Rewa. Six bodies were transported to Teonthar Hospital, while four injured individuals were taken to Gangev Hospital before being referred to Sanjay Gandhi Medical College in Rewa. One of the injured later succumbed to his injuries during treatment, bringing the death toll to seven,” he told.

Hundreds of students protested on Thursday in the state capital, demanding the implementation of a domicile policy in Bihar's government recruitment process.

The students allege that Bihar lags behind other states like Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, where such policies are already in place, ensuring preference for local candidates in government jobs.

Protesters claimed that the absence of a similar policy in Bihar is contributing to rising unemployment and mass migration of youth from the state.

Large student groups assembled early in the morning and marched through central Patna, raising slogans and blocking roads.

As torrential rains and flooding continue to disrupt normal life in Imphal and surrounding areas, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles have been at the forefront of relief and rescue efforts under the ongoing ‘Operation Jal Rahat-II’ relief operation.

A Defence spokesman said on Thursday that since May 31, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles troops have been working tirelessly across multiple flood-affected localities in Imphal East and Imphal West districts, providing critical assistance to the flood-affected population within certain cases, without waiting for formal requisition.

Operating under extremely challenging conditions, the Indian Army and Assam Rifles have evacuated nearly 2,500 civilians to safety during the rescue operation so far.

Major evacuations took place in Imphal’s Wangkhei areas, where 778 individuals were rescued and at government-run Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) medical college and hospital, where 750 people, including 15 patients requiring urgent care, were safely evacuated.

At least five people were killed and 34 injured on Friday in a blast at a double-storey illegal firecracker factory located on the outskirts of a village in Punjab’s Muktsar district, police said.

Most of the victims were migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The factory, owned by Tarsem Singh, who is associated with the state-ruled AAP, in Singhwala village, was reduced to rubble owing to the intensity of the blast, trapping many under debris.

According to the police, the blast occurred at midnight. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda, and most of them were stated to be out of danger.

The Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted an interstate syndicate involved in the theft and resale of high-end vehicles, a statement said on Friday.

The gang used a sophisticated modus operandi to sell stolen cars through online platforms by forging documents, opening bank accounts with fake identities, and tampering with engine and chassis numbers.

In a series of coordinated operations, the police arrested a key member of the gang and recovered eight luxury vehicles.

According to Delhi Police, the breakthrough came with the arrest of Rakesh Patel alias Pappu (38), a core operative of the syndicate, near Sahibabad Railway Station in Ghaziabad on April 21, 2025.