Hazaribagh, Jan 12: Jharkhand Police have arrested eight persons in connection with the murder of Suraj Kumar Rana, who was killed following a dispute over loud music during New Year’s celebrations in Hazaribagh, officials said on Monday.

Suraj was brutally attacked with swords, sticks and other sharp weapons on the night of January 1, triggering tension in the city. He died on the spot, while Kuldeep Soni, who attempted to intervene, sustained serious injuries.

The incident sparked widespread outrage, with hundreds of people taking to the streets on January 2, carrying the victim’s body and staging a protest demanding swift action.

Hazaribagh Superintendent of Police Anjani Anjan said the murder was committed as an act of revenge after an altercation over playing loud music in the Kolghati area of the city.

According to police, the accused attacked Suraj near Indrapuri Chowk around 10 p.m. on January 1. A murder case was registered at the Lohsinghna police station based on a written complaint lodged by the victim’s wife, Kajal Kumari.

Given the gravity of the case, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted at the direction of the SP. Acting on technical inputs and intelligence, the SIT carried out raids at multiple locations, including Delhi, Noida, Bhilai, Chatra, Ramgarh, Ranchi and Barkagaon.

Police said the prime accused — Rahul Kumar, Roshan Kumar and Deepak Kumar — were arrested from Sector-126 in Noida and brought to Hazaribagh on transit remand.

Based on their disclosures during interrogation, four more accused — Sonu Kumar, Rahul alias Lolo, Aman Kumar alias Rohan and Mukesh Kumar — were arrested from Pipradih village under the Barkagaon police station area. Another accused was later apprehended from the Kolghati area.

Police said sufficient evidence has been collected against all the accused, and the process of sending them to judicial custody is underway. The weapons used in the crime, including swords and sticks, have also been recovered.

New Delhi, Jan 12: India’s inflation rate, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was estimated at 1.33 per cent for December 2025, which is marginally higher than the corresponding figure of 0.71 per cent for November.

Food inflation remained in the negative zone during December at (-) 2.71 per cent, as prices of food goods fell compared to the same month of the previous year. Food inflation has now stayed negative for the seventh month in a row, easing the burden on household budgets. However, the figure for December was a tad higher than the (-) 3.91 per cent recorded for November.

The increase in headline inflation and food inflation during December 2025 is mainly attributed to an increase in inflation of personal care and effects, vegetables, meat and fish, egg, spices, and pulses, according to an official statement.

However, the overall outlook for inflation remains benign. The RBI’s monetary policy committee (MPC) last month slashed its forecast for India’s inflation rate for the financial year 2025-26 to 2 per cent from 2.6 per cent predicted in October due to the sharp decline in food prices and the GST rate cuts playing out.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced a reduction in the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent from 5.5 per cent earlier, as inflation has come down and the monetary policy could focus on boosting growth.

Malhotra said that the surge in economic growth to 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of the current financial year and the sharp decline in inflation to 1.7 per cent provided a rare “Goldilocks period” for the Indian economy.

“The MPC noted that headline inflation has eased significantly and is likely to be softer than the earlier projections, primarily on account of the exceptionally benign food prices. Reflecting these favourable conditions, the projections for average headline inflation in 2025-26 and Q1:2026-27 have been further revised downwards.”

Malhotra also pointed out that core inflation (which excludes food and fuel) remained largely contained in September-October, despite continued price pressures exerted by precious metals. Excluding gold, core inflation moderated to 2.6 per cent in October. Overall, the decline in inflation has become more generalised, he added.

The RBI Governor observed that food supply prospects have improved on the back of higher kharif production, healthy rabi sowing, adequate reservoir levels and conducive soil moisture. Barring some metals, international commodity prices are likely to moderate going forward.

Bhopal, Jan 12: Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Monday emphasised India’s rich legacy of innovation while underscoring the pivotal role of startups in propelling the nation towards becoming the world’s top economy.

Addressing the Madhya Pradesh Startup Summit & Ecosystem Awards 2026 at Ravindra Bhavan, Bhopal, he highlighted forgotten contributions of Indian scientists and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts in fostering research and entrepreneurship.

Dr Yadav recalled the ground-breaking work of Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose, who in the late 19th century demonstrated that plants have life, sensitivity, and reactions to stimuli — experiments now validated by modern “gastography” showing 10,000 times higher frequency in plant responses.

He also noted Bose’s 1895 demonstration of microwaves in Kolkata, later adopted by Marconi for the Nobel Prize, and early semiconductor ideas, lamenting that post-Independence governments overlooked these due to resource constraints.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is changing,” Dr Yadav said, calling for applause for the PM’s initiatives in promoting research and startups, including a 2022 programme launched from Indore.

He showcased innovative startups, such as one developing a low-cost machine that harvests one acre of crops for just Rs 10 in an hour via a TV-screen-operated mini-tractor, addressing environmental and agricultural needs.

Dr Yadav expressed confidence that India, now the fourth-largest economy, will soon rank third and eventually first.

Chief Secretary Anurag Jain, addressing the gathering, commended the state’s proactive policies and ecosystem building, noting, “Madhya Pradesh’s focus on innovation, ease of doing business, and inclusive growth is positioning it as a key player in India’s startup journey.”

MSME Minister Chetanya Kahsya praised the summit’s interactive platform, stating, “Such events foster collaboration between government, entrepreneurs, and investors, accelerating Madhya Pradesh’s emergence as a startup hub.”

The two-day summit, powered by the Madhya Pradesh Startup Policy 2025, has brought together innovators, investors, and ecosystem leaders to drive inclusive, future-ready growth.