Patna:

A woman in Bihar left her abusive husband to marry a loan recovery agent who used to visit her home for repayment. Indra Kumari was married in 2022 to Nakul Sharma, a resident of Jamui district. Nakul, an alcoholic, allegedly used to abuse Indra. Unable to bear the physical and emotional abuse, she sought an escape.

During this time, she crossed paths with Pawan Kumar Yadav, a loan shark working for a finance company. Their relationship started as a professional interaction when Pawan visited her home to collect a loan repayment. Over time, their acquaintance developed into friendship, which eventually turned into love.

For five months, Indra and Pawan carried on their relationship in secret. On February 4, they took flight and reached West Bengal’s Asansol, where Indra’s aunt resides. They remained there for a few days before returning to Jamui. On February 11, they got married at a temple. Their wedding, performed with traditional Hindu rituals, was attended by several people. Soon after, a video of the ceremony surfaced online and quickly went viral.

While Pawan’s family has accepted the marriage, Indra’s family is opposed to it and has filed an FIR against him. Indra said that she married Pawan out of her own free will.

With the FIR filed against Pawan and threats from Indra’s family, the newlyweds have sought protection from the authorities. They fear retaliation from Indra’s relatives and societal backlash.

Patna:

In a tragic incident, a Class 10 girl died after a monkey pushed her off the rooftop of her house in Bihar’s Siwan district.

The mishap occurred in Maghar village under the jurisdiction of the Bhagwanpur police station on Saturday afternoon. Priya Kumar was studying on the rooftop while basking in the sun due to the cold weather.

According to eyewitnesses, a group of monkeys appeared on the rooftop and began harassing her. Fear paralysed Priya, preventing her from escaping. When villagers created a commotion, she mustered the courage to run towards the stairs. However, a monkey reportedly jumped aggressively and pushed her with force, causing her to fall from the rooftop. Priya sustained critical injuries, including severe trauma to the back of her head and other parts of her body. She lost consciousness due to the impact.

In a desperate attempt to save her, Priya’s family rushed her to Siwan Sadar Hospital for treatment. Tragically, doctors at the hospital declared her dead upon arrival, citing multiple injuries as the cause of death.

Sujeet Kumar Chaudhary, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Bhagwanpur police station, confirmed the incident and shared details of the investigation: “When we learned about the incident, we went there for the investigation. The family members admitted the girl to Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared her dead due to multiple injuries. The family members refused to conduct a post-mortem in this case and have not lodged any complaint against anyone,” Chaudhary stated.

Villagers recounted the incident, expressing shock and sorrow. They explained that the monkeys had been creating disturbances in the area for some time, and their aggressive behaviour ultimately led to this fatal accident.

The girl’s family and the local community are mourning the loss of life, while concerns about increasing human-wildlife conflict in the region are growing. Priya Kumari, a Class 10 student, was preparing for her upcoming matriculation exams.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

The Bihar government has ordered a probe into the death of seven persons allegedly after drinking spurious liquor in West Champaran district. The incident occurred at Maithya village under the Lauriya police station in Bettiah.

In the last three days, five persons have died, whereas the first death took place on Thursday. Relatives have cremated the bodies and the police came to know of it on Sunday. The district administration has ordered a probe into it, denying deaths due to liquor, which is prohibited in Bihar.

Sumit Kumar, in-charge District Magistrate of Bettiah, said a four-member committee had been formed to probe the deaths.

“Once the report comes, then only we can say anything about the cause of death,” Mr. Kumar told the media.

There is silence in the village over the death of seven persons. However, relatives of the deceased are giving different reasons to the investigating team.

“The medical team which visited the village has not yet submitted the report. These deaths have not happened due to drinking alcohol because people died on different dates and in different age groups,“ said Shaurya Suman, Superintendent of Police, Bettiah.

When the police had gone to investigate the matter, the villagers reportedly showed them a country-made liquor pouch but it was immediately burnt by one of the team members, it is alleged.

After the incident, heavy police deployment has been made in the village. The family members of the deceased are maintaining distance from the police and have kept mum. A team of doctors is visiting door-to-door to conduct medical check-ups. Many of the villagers have told the police that liquor is sold openly in the area. However, the police are pretending as if they are not aware of it.

Patna:

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday offered a cryptic response to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s “doors open” statement to rejoin the opposition INDIA bloc. When questioned by journalists about Mr Yadav’s remarks, Mr Kumar folded his hands, smiled, and curtly responded, “Kya bol rahe hain (What are you saying?)” without elaborating further.

This exchange comes in the wake of Mr Yadav’s statement during an interview, where he said, “Our doors are open for Nitish Kumar. He should also unbolt his gates. This would facilitate movement of people from both sides.”

#WATCH | Patna: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar reacts on being asked about Lalu Prasad Yadav’s statement. pic.twitter.com/6Gxb9iOZgP

— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2025

Mr Yadav’s statement has since fueled speculation in Bihar about the possibility of another alliance between the two veteran leaders, often referred to as “bada bhai, chhota bhai” (big brother, little brother) in Bihar’s political circles. 

Mr Yadav’s overture to Mr Kumar follows a history of turbulent alliances. Mr Kumar, leader of the Janata Dal (United), has aligned with the RJD twice in the last decade, most recently as part of the Mahagathbandhan before switching sides to rejoin the BJP-led NDA in 2024. 

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son and heir apparent in the RJD, downplayed his father’s remarks, suggesting they were made to “satisfy the curiosity of the media.” Speaking to journalists at the swearing-in ceremony of  new Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Tejashwi Yadav said, “What else would he (Lalu Yadav) say? He was simply addressing your questions.”

Tejashwi Yadav, however, added that the new year would witness the end of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government. He further accused Mr Kumar of being “captive” to a small group of close advisors and no longer capable of running Bihar independently.

Union Minister and JD(U) leader Lalan Singh dismissed Lalu Yadav’s remarks. “The NDA is strong. JD(U) and BJP are united. People can say whatever they want – it is a free country,” he said. 

Patna:

A government teacher in Bihar applied for maternity leave, despite being a male, and after it got sanctioned, enjoyed a week-long holiday.

The bizarre anomaly came to light when users of a portal, set up for government teachers applying for leave online, saved a screenshot and posted it on social media.

However, authorities claim it was a “technical error” which would be set right and there was nothing to smell a rat.

“It is a case of wrongful entry in the leave application format. The error is technical and will be rectified,” said Archana Kumari, the education officer in charge of Mahua block in Vaishali district, where the teacher, Jitendra Kumar Singh, is posted.

She agreed that maternity leaves were granted only to women, but pointed out that “even males get ‘pitritva avakash’ (paternity leave) to look after their newborns”.

“We will find out the details of this instance which has been brought to our notice,” she said.

“Some teachers have complained of their earned leaves being deducted even though they had applied for casual leaves,” she added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Patna:

In a significant move, the Bihar Police used the controversial bulldozer and demolished the houses of over 100 absconding criminals in East Champaran on Tuesday.

An official said that the police teams arrived at the homes of approximately absconding criminals with pending warrants and began demolition actions using JCB machines.

The operation, led by SP Swarn Prabhat, is part of a district-wide campaign aimed at attachment and confiscation of property belonging to absconding criminals. Several accused individuals have surrendered in the state owing to tough police action.

SP Swarn Prabhat supervised the operation in parts of Motihari city. In one notable instance, he directed the attachment of the property belonging to Vishwanath Vishwas, a known criminal in the locality.

Commenting on the case, SP Swarn Prabhat said that action is being taken against those who failed to comply with prior court orders and surrender despite receiving notices.

“The attachment and confiscation measures serve as a stern warning to the accused while showcasing the administration’s commitment to law enforcement and accountability,” he said.

SP Swarn Prabhat said that all 50 police station heads, circle inspectors, and DSPs in the district are actively participating in the attachment and confiscation campaign.

As part of this operation, 10 to 12 warranties have surrendered, while the properties of those who failed to comply with court notices are being demolished,” he said.

SP Swarn Prabhat has implemented multiple focused campaigns to address various criminal and social issues in the district including Operation Helmet, a continuous operation aimed at crime control in rural areas, Operation Number Plate, an initiative to target vehicles with fake or illegal license plates, this campaign has been instrumental in tracking criminal activities linked to unauthorised vehicles.

Swarn Prabhat also launched Operation Anusandhan focused on tracking and apprehending absconders and suspects involved in serious crimes, a dedicated initiative against the illegal trade and consumption of alcohol and narcotics, which has already shown significant results, a weekly drive to address specific crime-related challenges systematically and others.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Patna:

A person wanted in more than 10 criminal cases, including bank dacoities, in Bihar and Haryana was killed in an encounter with police in Patna district, a senior officer said on Saturday.

Akash Yadav alias Ajay Rai was killed in Jakkanpur area in an exchange of fire between Special Task Force (STF) personnel of the state police and members of a criminal gang on Wednesday night, the officer said.

A sub-inspector of STF was also injured in the firing, he said.

“We got information that Rai and his associates were hiding at a particular location in Jakkanpur area, and accordingly an STF team reached there. As the members of the criminal gang spotted the police team, they tried to flee the spot and started firing targeting the STF personnel.

“The policemen retaliated. Rai and a sub-inspector sustained bullet injuries. Both were taken to the nearest government hospital where Rai succumbed to his injury,” Bihar Police Additional Director General (ADG-Operation) Amrit Raj told PTI.

The injured policeman is undergoing treatment at the hospital and he is stable now, the ADG said.

The police team recovered one pistol, several cartridges and a mobile phone from the spot.

Associates of Rai managed to flee the spot, the ADG said, adding that a search operation is underway to arrest them.

“Rai was wanted in more than 10 cases, including bank dacoities, in Bihar and Haryana,” the officer added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

BIhar:

When she became the deputy mayor of Gaya town in Bihar, after having swept its streets for decades, Chinta Devi felt the ‘city of salvation’ has, finally, presented her with her own deliverance.

After nearly two years in office, she finds herself back on the streets, selling vegetables as a mark of protest against the disrespect she has been made to allegedly put up with.

She asked, “What is the point in my being deputy mayor if I am not kept in the loop about the goings on in the municipal corporation?” Devi, who worked for 35 years as an employee (sweeper) of the Gaya Municipal Corporation, was elected deputy mayor of Gaya in December 2022, two years after her retirement.

Talking to media persons on Tuesday, Devi said, “I am very upset with the attitude of the administration of the Gaya Municipal Corporation. I am not even invited for meetings held in the Corporation. Officials don’t even inform me about the schemes being run by the Corporation in the city.” She alleged that she has not been paid salary of the deputy mayor for the last several months.

“This is the reason that I decided to sell vegetables on the streets of Gaya. It’s better to sell vegetables than sitting in the Municipal Corporation office without any work,” Devi said.

Everyone was surprised to see Devi selling vegetables at Kedar Nath market on Tuesday and a huge crowd gathered around her.

“I can earn money by selling vegetables although I get my pension as a retired employee of the municipal corporation. But I am not being provided any of the facilities by the corporation for which I am entitled to as the deputy mayor,” she claimed.

Despite repeated attempts, senior municipal officials of Gaya were not available for their comments on the charges levelled by Devi.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Patna:

A desperate struggle with mounting debt ended in tragedy for a family in Bihar, where five members consumed poison in the early hours of Saturday morning. One, the father, has died, while the remaining four are in critical condition, fighting for their lives, police said. The chilling sequence of events unfolded in Bihar’s Banka district, where financial hardship, allegedly exacerbated by harassment from bank agents over unpaid loans, pushed the family to suicide. 

According to the police, the head of the family, Kanhaiya Mahato, who worked as an auto driver, had taken loans from multiple private banks to support his family. However, the relentless pressure to repay, coupled with the family’s dire financial straits, became unbearable.

“Father and mother said their reputation was ruined, and they couldn’t live with the shame. They told us we would all go together,” said 16-year-old Savita Kumari, Kanhaiya’s daughter.

The family ingested sulphas tablets, commonly used as a pesticide, at around 2:00 am on Saturday. The youngest child, eight-year-old Rakesh Kumar, reportedly spit out the tablets after placing them in his mouth, narrowly escaping the fate that claimed his father.

The family’s plight came to light when Kanhaiya’s sister-in-law, Bina Devi, received a frantic call from a younger relative, urging her to come to their aid. The victims were rushed to Amarpur Referral Hospital before four of them were referred to Mayaganj Hospital in Bhagalpur for advanced care.

Kanhaiya Mahato died en route to Bhagalpur. His wife, Geeta Devi, and the three children remain critical.

Patna:

The Araria Police in Bihar have arrested a 55-year-old man, Mohammad Abdul Gaffar, for allegedly entering the official residence of local Member of Parliament (MP) Pradeep Kumar Singh without authorisation on Tuesday.

Abdul Gaffar, a resident of Bangama Tola village, was arrested after being found in possession of a country-made pistol and seven live cartridges.

The incident has raised serious concerns about the MP’s security. Pradeep Kumar Singh, who regularly holds a Janata Darbar at his residence to address public grievances, said: “A person entered my house and attempted to go upstairs while I was conducting the Janata Darbar. My personal guard intervened, checked him, and discovered a pistol and seven live cartridges kept in his waist. The guards immediately detained him and alerted the local police.”

Pradeep Kumar Singh also mentioned that he has raised security concerns in the past, citing potential threats to his safety. He emphasised that the incident highlights the ongoing risks he faces, stating, “Today was one of those days where a person illegally entered my house.”

The police have taken the accused into custody for further investigation, and the authorities are reviewing security arrangements to prevent future breaches.

In an official statement, the Araria police confirmed the arrest of Mohammad Abdul Gaffar, who was apprehended after illegally entering the residence of Lok Sabha MP Pradeep Kumar Singh with country-made pistol arms and cartridges.

“We have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the newly enacted Bhartiya Nyay Sahita (BNS), and further investigation into the matter is ongoing,” the statement said.

The arrest occurred on a day when Pradeep Kumar Singh made a controversial statement during the Hindu Swabhiman Yatra, led by Union Minister Giriraj Singh in Araria.

Speaking to a large crowd during the event, Pradeep Singh remarked that people must “become Hindu” if they wish to live in Araria, and should then find people of the same caste for marriage. This statement has sparked widespread debate and controversy.

The Hindu Swabhiman Yatra, attended by numerous supporters, has further solidified Pradeep Kumar Singh’s image as a hardline Hindu leader in the region.

His remarks have been viewed as provocative, especially given the region’s religious and social composition. The timing of the security breach at his residence-adds another layer of concern regarding his safety and political environment.

Authorities are now investigating both the illegal entry and potential motives behind the intrusion.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)