New Delhi, Oct 23: Hours after executing one of the biggest crackdowns on the inter-state crime, the Delhi Police made some startling disclosures about the Bihar gangsters’ intention and motive to disrupt the upcoming Assembly elections and also how the four criminals found a ‘safe haven’ in the capital.

Addressing a press conference, Surendra Kumar, Joint CP of Delhi Police Crime Branch, said that the gang of four criminals had been hiding in the national capital for the past several days and were traced and confronted after receiving inputs from Bihar Police about their whereabouts.

He told the press that the Sigma gang’s kingpin, Ranjan Pathak, carried a reward of Rs 25,000 and was wanted in at least eight criminal cases.

The four gangsters of the notorious Sigma gang, responsible for some high-profile killings in Bihar, were also plotting to conduct a major criminal operation during the upcoming Assembly elections, the senior cop told the press.

According to police, they also committed a murder in Bihar after the election code of conduct came into effect on October 6.

He said that further investigations are underway and the police are interrogating known acquaintances of the accused to dig deep into the gangsters’ motive.

The sigma gang members were killed in an encounter with Delhi police, in the wee hours of Thursday, as the latter launched surveillance on key inputs from Bihar Police and laid a trap in the area. A pistol was recovered from the accused, and a stolen car was recovered.

During the police operation in North-West Delhi, the criminals opened fire at the police team and were injured in retaliatory gunfire. They were taken to a hospital in Rohini, where doctors declared them dead.

The operation was carried out by a joint team of the Delhi Police Crime Branch and the Bihar Police.

The four most-wanted were identified as Ranjan Pathak (25), Bimalesh Mahato alias Bimalesh Sahni (25), Manish Pathak (33), and Aman Thakur (21). They were all residents of Sitamarhi district in Bihar and were part of the ‘Sigma Gang’.

New Delhi, Oct 23: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted on Thursday that the unified payments interface (UPI) platform processed 754 million payments worth Rs 1.02 lakh crore on October 18, marking the highest single-day tally, as consumer demand surged due to the GST rate cuts.

During the three-day period between Dhanteras and Diwali, the average UPI volumes stood at 736.9 million — higher than 647.46 million in the corresponding period a month ago, the Finance Minister said.

“It has been a cracker of a Diwali for retailers this year as GST rate cuts have boosted consumption, enabling the middle class to add more items to their shopping bags this festive season,” she observed.

From lab-grown diamonds to casual wear and products to adorn homes, both mass and premium segments of the market picked up, Sitharaman remarked.

She pointed out that the roll-out of Goods and Services Tax (GST) 2.0 has injected fresh momentum into India’s growth story by enhancing household purchasing power, easing business operations, and simplifying tax administration.

“By rationalising slabs and lowering rates across a range of consumer goods, the reform has delivered tangible savings for households, freeing up disposable income and helping stimulate demand,” the Finance Minister added.

According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Diwali sales soared to an all-time high of Rs 6.05 lakh this year.

This marks a 25 per cent jump over the 2024 festive sales of Rs 4.25 lakh crore from the Navratri to Diwali period and is the highest-ever sales in India’s trading history, according to Research and Trade Development Society, the research wing of CAIT.

Mainline retail accounted for nearly 85 per cent of total sales, indicating a strong revival of the brick-and-mortar market, the survey showed.

The reduction in GST rates across key consumer and retail categories such as confectionery, home decor, footwear, and ready-made garments, consumer durables and daily use items significantly improved price competitiveness and increased purchase momentum.

About 72 per cent of surveyed traders reported higher sales volumes directly attributable to reduced GST, according to the survey.

Consumers expressed greater satisfaction with stable prices amid festive demand, aiding consumption continuity post-Diwali.

The non-corporate and non-agricultural sector has emerged as a central pillar of India’s growth, driven by 9 crore small businesses, crores of small manufacturing units and the largest base of consumers.

New Delhi, Oct 23: China Eastern Airlines on Thursday announced the resumption of flights on its India route, and the direct flights between Shanghai and Delhi will start from November 9, in fresh momentum for people-to-people exchanges and economic and trade collaboration between New Delhi and Beijing.

The service will operate three times weekly — on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. China Eastern Airlines has designated the Airbus A330-200, known for its long-range capability and comfortable cabin environment, for this route.

“The flight from Delhi, MU564, will depart at 7.55 p.m., arriving in Shanghai at 4.10 a.m. the following day. Flight MU563 from Shanghai Pudong International Airport will depart at 12.50 p.m. and arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, at 5.45 p.m. local time. Tickets for the route are now available for sale,” the airline said in a statement.

The Shanghai and Delhi route is one of the most strategically significant air links between India and China, connecting the major economic and cultural hubs of both nations.

The resumption of this service marks the full restoration of China Eastern Airlines’ network in India.

InterGlobe Air Transport has been the exclusive General Sales Agent (GSA) for China Eastern Airlines in India since 2002, when the airline became the first Chinese carrier to offer direct flights between India and China.

The company manages comprehensive sales, marketing, reservation and ticketing, and operational support for the airline.

It will continue leveraging its extensive network and understanding of the Indian travel market to ensure the sustained success of this vital route, said the airline.

Earlier, low-cost airline IndiGo announced new daily direct flights between New Delhi and China’s Guangzhou from November 10. The airline said that the route will be operated using IndiGo’s Airbus A320 aircraft.

It recently announced daily flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou, starting October 26. The announcement came after the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that India and China would restart direct flights between designated cities.