In a significant breakthrough by police in Maharashtra, a farm labourer was arrested within 24 hours for the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl at her home near the state’s Wardha district, officials said on Friday.

The accused has been identified as 30-year-old Rahul Raju Madavi.

According to investigators, the minor was allegedly raped before being bludgeoned to death with a stone at her house in Wardha. Her’s partially unclothed body was discovered inside the house by her parents, police said.

Based on a complaint filed by the victim’s mother, the police registered a case under charges of murder and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Given the gravity of the matter, the police formed 14 special teams under the guidance of the Sub-Divisional Officer. Three suspects were detained overnight.

Saurabh Kumar Agrawal, Superintendent of Police, Wardha, said that following rigorous interrogation, accused Madavi confessed to committing the rape and murder.

The police suspect that two other individuals may have assisted the accused. Consequently, they have also been taken into custody.

The 12-year-old victim was a fifth-grade student. The family, hailing from Mahagaon in the state’s Yavatmal district, had been living in Wardha for the past five years. They resided in a hut located on a farm.

The accused, a labourer, used to frequent the area where the victim’s family lived, as he worked in a nearby field.

According to the police investigation, the minor’s parents were away from home on Wednesday. Taking advantage, the accused entered the premises and purportedly raped the girl before bludgeoning her to death with a stone.

Further, police stated that the investigation is being conducted in consultation with medical experts, and the rape allegation will be confirmed only after the medical report is received.

Moreover, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the case, with the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) appointed to lead the team. Strict action will be taken against the guilty, and the case will be tried in a fast-track court as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the incident sparked grief and outrage in the area with residents blocking a road for a period, demanding the death penalty for the accused and a fast-track trial. Police have maintained a presence in the village to prevent any further disturbance.

Bengaluru, July 16: A 12-year-old student of a private school in Bengaluru died after collapsing inside his classroom, with his family alleging that negligence on the part of the school management resulted in the tragedy. The family has lodged a complaint with the Konanakunte police station, following which an FIR was registered on Thursday.

The deceased has been identified as Arhan Pasha, a student of a school located in Weavers Colony on Bannerghatta Road. Although the incident occurred on June 10, it came to light only recently after the family raised allegations against the school administration.

According to the parents, Arhan had gone to school after having lunch and appeared to be in good health. “He said goodbye to his father before leaving for school. We never imagined that would be the last time we would see him alive,” a family member said.

The family alleged that Arhan had informed his class teacher that he was feeling unwell and was experiencing dizziness. However, they claimed that his complaints were ignored and that he was asked to remain quiet and return to his seat.

“Our son told his teachers that he was not feeling well. Other children later informed us that the teacher asked him to sit down instead of attending to him. We send our children to school trusting the management and staff, but they showed complete carelessness,” the grieving parents alleged.

According to the complaint, Arhan later collapsed on a classroom bench during school hours. The family has alleged that he remained inside the school premises for nearly 45 minutes before they were informed about the incident.

The parents further claimed that the school management failed to arrange an ambulance or immediately shift the boy to a hospital. Instead, after being informed, family members rushed to the school and transported Arhan to a hospital on a two-wheeler.

“The doctors told us that if he had been brought to the hospital even 10 minutes earlier, he could have been saved. The school could have at least called an ambulance. There are around 30 teachers in the school, but no one cares. I don’t want any other family to go through what we have suffered,” Arhan’s parents said.

Konanakunte police have registered an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police have also collected CCTV footage from the school as part of the investigation.

Responding to the allegations, the school management denied any negligence.

Ranju, a teacher at the school, said Arhan appeared normal when he arrived at school that day.

“He had taken permission to go to the washroom and later returned to the classroom and sat on the last bench. He was writing notes when he suddenly collapsed onto the lap of another student, who immediately alerted us,” she said.

“When I spoke to Arhan, he responded and addressed me as ‘Madam’ twice. We initially believed he had fainted due to the heat and massaged his hands and legs. By then, the headmistress had arrived, and arrangements were made to shift him. There was no driver available as it was lunchtime, which delayed the use of the school vehicle,” she added.

The teacher further stated that Arhan had been absent for two days before the incident and had informed her that he had attended a wedding during that period.

“If we had known he was seriously ill, we would have immediately sent him home,” she said.

Police said further investigation is underway to determine whether there was any lapse on the part of the school management in responding to the medical emergency.

New Delhi, July 16: The Ministry of Power on Thursday circulated the draft Corporate Average Fuel Economy 2027 Norms (CAFE-III) for stakeholder consultation, which propose a fresh five-year fuel efficiency regime for passenger vehicles, beginning from April 1, 2027.

The draft norms apply to M1 category vehicles, a classification that covers passenger cars carrying up to eight people besides the driver, which includes all hatchbacks, sedans and SUVs sold for personal use. The category excludes commercial goods carriers and buses, according to an official statement.

The existing CAFE-II norms are likely to lapse on March 31, 2027. Compliance under CAFE-III will be assessed in two phases, the first covering three years and the second the remaining two, with fuel efficiency targets progressing to more stringent levels through each passing year.

The framework, overseen by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Power, aims to bring down average fleet emissions from current levels to a significantly lower threshold by FY32, according to earlier drafts reported in the media.

Compliance credits have been priced at Rs 2,500 each, rising by Rs 500 every year through the period, with unused credits expiring once the compliance period ends. Automakers that fail to meet targets could face penalties, though the detailed amounts have not been mentioned. Manufacturers selling fewer than 1,000 vehicles annually will remain exempt.

Industry has differed in its response to earlier versions of the draft. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has backed the proposal as balanced, while some carmakers have pushed for relief on small petrol cars and others have opposed differentiated treatment for that segment.

The ministry has invited suggestions from stakeholders and the public. Feedback can be sent to the Under Secretary, Energy Conservation, at the ministry’s New Delhi office, or can be emailed.

The last date for submissions is August 6, 2026. The draft norms will also be uploaded on the websites of the Ministry of Power and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency shortly, the statement said.

M1 vehicles are subject to stringent fuel efficiency and emission targets under Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) norms, which are regularly updated to reduce greenhouse gases.