Gadag (Karnataka), March 14: At least seven school girls had to be hospitalised after a gang of miscreants threw chemical colour on them while celebrating Holi in Lakshmeshwar town of Gadag district of Karnataka on Friday.

According to preliminary information, four of the seven school girls are in critical condition. They are complaining of breathing problems and chest pain. They have been shifted to Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), while the remaining girls are being treated at the local government hospital in Lakshmeshwar.

The incident has sparked outrage among the people and the parents of the victims have rushed to the hospital. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the police have started searching for the gang of miscreants.

According to the police, the school girls were waiting for the bus to go to school to take the exam at the bus stand near Suvarnagiri Tanda in Lakshmeshwar town.

Sources said a gang of miscreants came on bikes, stopped near the bus stand and started throwing colours on them. Meanwhile, the school bus arrived and the girls boarded it. The miscreants followed the bus on bikes and entered the bus and specifically targeted seven schoolgirls and poured chemical colours on them.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the chemical colours thrown by the miscreants contained cow dung, eggs, phenol and colour mixed together. The girls unknowingly swallowed some amount of the mixture, causing them to experience breathing problems and other symptoms.

The students fell sick and were immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment.

The scenes at the hospital were heartbreaking, with the girls suffering from breathing problems and severe chest pain. Senior police officials rushed to the hospital and assured the parents that strict action would be taken against the culprits.

The accused managed to escape on bikes and the police are gathering information from locals and other passengers on the school bus to nab them. More details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses. The authorities are yet to issue any official statement on the matter.

Beed (Maharashtra): The recent brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Parli taluka, Beed district, has left the region shaken. The gruesome killing has tarnished Parli’s reputation, triggering concerns about law and order in the area. In an effort to restore the town’s image and uplift the community’s morale, Global Vikas Trust (GVT) has organized a marathon on March 19, led by fitness icon Milind Soman and GVT head Mayank Gandhi.

The murder of Santosh Deshmukh shocked residents, with reports indicating that he was brutally attacked due to political and local disputes. His death sparked tension in the region, prompting authorities to heighten security measures. The Beed Superintendent of Police and the Collector have been actively monitoring the situation to maintain law and order.

To counteract the negativity surrounding the incident, GVT, an organization that has been working on rural transformation in the area for several years, decided to take action. The upcoming marathon aims to bring positivity, unity and hope back to the people of Parli.

Milind Soman, known for promoting fitness and social causes, has specially flown in for the event to inspire Parli’s youth. A few thousand young participants will join the run alongside Milind Soman, the Beed SP, the Beed Collector and other dignitaries. The marathon will conclude at Krishikul, a rural education and development center.

Event To Boost Morale Among Residents

The event is expected to not only boost morale but also reinforce the message that Parli is a place of growth and unity, not violence and crime. With high-profile participation and enthusiastic youth engagement, the marathon aims to shift focus from the tragedy to the spirit of resilience and transformation.

Authorities are ensuring tight security arrangements for the event, considering the recent tensions in the area. The marathon is being seen as an important step toward restoring normalcy and confidence in Parli’s future.

Dhaka, March 13: The 8-year-old rape victim passed away on Thursday at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Bangladesh’s capital city, Dhaka, after fighting for her life for a week, according to local media reports.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that she died at the CMH around 1:00 pm, reports the leading Bangladeshi newspaper, The Daily Star.

She had suffered several cardiac arrests as of Thursday morning while on life support at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of CMH, according to the office of the interim government’s Chief Advisor.

On Thursday morning, the victim suffered two more cardiac arrests after already experiencing four on Wednesday.

The Bangladesh Army issued a statement on social media on Wednesday and stated that the condition of the 8-year-old remains critical and her blood pressure and oxygen levels are dangerously low.

The army urged people to pray for her, however, the child succumbed to her injuries.

The incident occurred when the victim was raped by her sister’s father-in-law in Magura last week.

The victim, who sustained critical injuries, was initially treated in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being transferred to CMH Hospital for advanced care.

In recent days several students and teachers from different universities across the country, including Dhaka University, North South University, Independent University, Bangladesh, and Rajshahi University, demonstrated against the rising rape incidents, including that of the eight-year-old child in Magura, and demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of the crime.

Outraged over the rising incidents of gender-based violence across Bangladesh, the ‘University Teachers’ Network’ also held a gathering last week at Dhaka University’s Aparajeyo Bangla, where teachers and students of six universities nationwide participated.

The protestors condemned ongoing violence against women, discussed its root causes, and criticised government failures.

Dhaka University Professor Tasneem Siraj Mahboob called for the dismissal of the Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, instead of his resignation, emphasising that she had demanded this months ago.

“Resignation is an honourable exit. He doesn’t deserve that honour,” leading Bangladeshi daily The Dhaka Tribune quoted her as saying.

The statistics on violence against women in Bangladesh have exposed the grim reality in the country under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime.

Addressing the situation of violence against women in Bangladesh that remained troubling in 2025, with shocking numbers reported in the first two months, Fauzia Moslem, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, speaking to The Daily Star, said, “Society is descending into chaos, where lawlessness and criminal impunity are growing. The failure of law enforcement, compromises, and lack of accountability are empowering criminals.”

Several cases of violence against women have been reported from across Bangladesh since the Yunus-led interim government came to power in August 2024.

The incompetence of the interim government in curbing gender-based violence sparked public outrage, with many demanding the resignation of Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and holding the interim government led by Yunus accountable for degrading the law and order situation across the nation.