Delhi Police busted an interstate heroin supply and manufacturing network extending from Delhi and Haryana to Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, arresting seven accused and recovering 8.128 kg of heroin worth approximately Rs 60 crore in the international market.

The operation, conducted by the Special Staff of Rohini district under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, also led to the seizure of 3.291 kg of chemicals and raw materials used in heroin manufacturing, Rs 12.81 lakh in cash, three SUVs, a motorcycle and equipment used in the illegal drug production process.

According to the police, the operation was carried out by a team led by Inspector Sandeep Godara under the supervision of ACP (Operations) Ajmer Singh. The investigation uncovered links between suppliers, a heroin manufacturing unit and a person involved in illegal opium poppy cultivation.

The operation began on September 16, when police received information about narcotics movement in the Begumpur police station area. Acting on the tip-off, a team laid a trap in Sector 32, Begumpur, and intercepted a car. The police arrested Laxman Hooda, 58, a resident of Rohtak, Haryana, and recovered 300 grams of heroin and Rs 3 lakh in cash from the vehicle.

On September 17, the police arrested another accused, Anil alias Bhola, 51, from Sonipat, Haryana, and recovered 501 grams of heroin from his car. Anil has been involved in 12 criminal cases. He had previously been arrested in an NDPS case registered at Bhalswa Dairy police station in 2025.

After being granted interim bail, he failed to surrender and was subsequently declared a proclaimed offender by a court.

Further investigation and technical surveillance led the police to a heroin manufacturing facility in Sita Colony, Jankipuram, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on October 4.

The police arrested Bablu, 35, and recovered 6.275 kg of freshly manufactured heroin. They also seized 2.504 kg of sodium, 787 grams of acetic anhydride, a gas cylinder, a mixer-grinder, utensils, a tub, an electronic weighing machine, polythene and other manufacturing equipment.

Following Bablu’s interrogation, the police traced and arrested Ruksar Ali alias Raju, the alleged owner and main source supplier of the manufacturing facility, from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, after an extensive search. Ruksar has previously been involved in three NDPS cases, according to the police.

On October 6, Ajaj Ahmed, 38, was arrested in Bareilly for supplying crude opium to Ruksar. The police recovered 501 grams of heroin and a motorcycle from him.

The investigation subsequently led to the arrest of Mohammad Azhar, 20, from Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, on October 16. He allegedly supplied heroin and crude opium to Ajaj. The police recovered 551 grams of heroin, Rs 9,81,700 in cash and a car from his possession.

On October 18, the team reached Jharkhand’s Chatra district, a Naxalite-affected area, and arrested Prakash Kumar, 31. He supplied raw opium to the other accused and was involved in illegal opium poppy cultivation on his agricultural land.

One person was killed, and more than 100 were injured in the traditional fight with sticks during the Dussehra celebrations in Andhra Pradesh Kurnool district.

Like every year, two groups attacked each other with sticks during Devaragattu Banni Utsav held as part of celebrations at Deveragattu village in Holagonda ‘mandal’ (block) late on Wednesday night.

The injured were admitted to hospitals at Adoni and Alur, and the condition of 10 of them is stated to be critical.

Those with simple injuries were treated at a temporary hospital set up by the authorities.

The deceased was identified as Potaraju (28) of Alur.

The stick fight is organised every year as part of the Dussehra celebrations at Mala Malleswara Swamy temple, located on a hillock. Like in the past, the villagers defied the police orders to organise the fight, which they claim is part of their tradition.

As part of the annual celebrations, people from different villages divide into two groups to fight with sticks to secure the idols of the deities Mallamma and Malleswara Swamy after their ceremonial wedding at midnight.

Both groups participated in the event with enthusiasm. The preventive measures taken by the police to stop the fight had no impact.

Every year, people from the villages around the temple divide into two groups and fight with sticks to take control of the idols.

Villagers from Nerani, Nerani Tanda and Kothapeta villages fight with devotees from Arikera, Aluru, Suluvai, Ellarthi, Nidravatti and Bilehall villages. They mercilessly attack each other with sticks, and in the fight, many receive grievous injuries. However, devotees consider these injuries as a good omen.

Attempts by authorities to dissuade villagers from organising the fight have not yielded results. Every year, the police deploy forces to prevent the fight, but the villagers defy the orders and organise the fight. This year, more than 1,000 police personnel were deployed.

Villagers believe that Lord Shiva took the form of Bhairava and clobbered two demons, Mani and Mallasura, with sticks. The villagers enact the scene on Vijayadashami day. A group of villagers from the demon’s side try to snatch the idols from the rival group, called the god’s team. They fight with sticks to take control of the idols.

Thousands of people from various parts of Kurnool, surrounding districts and neighbouring states like Telangana and Karnataka gather in the village to watch the traditional fight.

At least four passengers were injured on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir Udhampur district when a sleeper bus collided with a tempo.

Officials said four female passengers sustained minor injuries after a sleeper bus and a tempo collided at Garnai in the district.

The accident reportedly occurred around 7.30 a.m. The injured passengers were shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC), Udhampur, for medical treatment.

“Police have taken cognisance of the incident, and further investigation has been started,” officials said.

On Wednesday, two passengers were killed and 15 others injured when a bus veered off the road and rolled down into a gorge in Latti-Basantgarh tehsil in Udhampur district.

Officials said the accident happened after a bus went out of the driver’s control, skidded off the road and then dropped into a deep gorge in the district. The bus was on its way from Poichound to Ramnagar when the accident occurred at Gulli Gala at around 8 a.m. Officials said locals started a rescue operation immediately after the accident.

They shifted 17 passengers to a primary health centre in Basantgarh. After first aid, all the injured passengers were shifted to Ramnagar hospital, where a woman and a 6-year old girl succumbed to critical injuries.

Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah offered condolences to the bereaved families and ordered the officials to ensure the best medical treatment for the injured.

Road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) stem from a combination of human error, difficult topography, and infrastructure challenges, as documented by the Motor Vehicles Department and traffic authorities.

The primary causes of road accidents are exceeding speed limits, rash driving, sudden manoeuvres, and reckless driving on highways and sharp curves.

Overloading by passenger and commercial vehicles, particularly in hilly districts like Doda, Kishtwar, and Rajouri, can cause the vehicles to lose balance and fall into gorges.

J&K features steep gradients, narrow carriageways, sharp blind bends, and long hill stretches where a minor loss of control can turn fatal.

Rain, heavy snowfall, dense fog, and recurring landslides reduce visibility and make road surfaces dangerously slick.

’Black Spots’, Inadequate parapet walls, missing crash barriers, insufficient signage, poor lighting, and unaddressed potholes increase the severity of accidents.