Greater Noida, Oct 17: A couple and their three children died under suspicious circumstances in Nagla Shri Padam village under the Rabupura police station area of Greater Noida on Saturday, police said.

According to reports, the Rabupura police station received information that a crowd had gathered outside the home of five family members from the Nagla Shri Padam village, following their deaths.

The deceased have been identified as Mahesh, 37, his wife Lalita, 35, and their three children, Laddu, 11, Mishti, 7, and Sakshat, 3.

According to the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Media Cell, police received information about the deaths on Saturday morning.

Following the information, senior police officials, local police personnel, an ambulance and a Food Safety Department team rushed to the spot. Forensic experts and a field unit inspected the scene and began collecting scientific evidence.

Preliminary information suggests that the family had consumed noodles the previous night. Police are investigating possible food poisoning, based on accounts provided by neighbours and Mahesh’s mother. However, the exact cause of the deaths has not yet been established and will only be determined after the post-mortem examinations and other investigations.

The bodies are being sent for post-mortem examination. Further legal action will be taken based on the autopsy report and other scientific investigations, police said.

Earlier, in January 2026, Delhi Police registered an FIR against a five-star luxury hotel, located at New Delhi’s Barakhamba Road, after a woman alleged that she fell ill after consuming food there.

A 33-year-old woman made a PCR call and, based on her statements, an FIR was registered under Section 286 (negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The woman complained that the hotel served her food that caused food poisoning, after which she felt unwell. The woman also told police that she had to stay in her hotel room and seek help.

A police team, including a woman Sub-Inspector, rushed to the room on the 12th floor of the hotel and, after no one responded to repeated knocks, the door was opened with the help of the hotel’s master key in the presence of staff, the FIR stated.

In another case in September 2025, around 200 people fell ill due to food poisoning allegedly after consuming buckwheat flour during Navratri fasting in northwest Delhi.

Srinagar, Oct 17: J&K Police in Anantnag district said on Saturday it has arrested five drug peddlers and recovered 5.9 Kg of narcotic substances from them.

A police statement said on Saturday, “Reaffirming its commitment to eradicating the drug menace, Anantnag Police intensified its anti-narcotics operations across the district, resulting in the apprehension of five alleged drug peddlers and the recovery of substantial quantities of contraband substances in multiple operations.”

In the first operation, Police Station Srigufwara apprehended Shahnawaz Ahmad Ganie son of Gh. Mohd. Ganie, resident of Sirhama, during naka checking at Hatigam Crossing. During his search, 5 kg and 780 grams of charas powder were recovered from his possession.

Accordingly, FIR No. 103/2026 under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Srigufwara.

In another operation, a police party from Police Station Kokernag, while conducting patrolling in the Kokernag–Bider area, apprehended Tanveer Ahmad Sheikh son of Ab. Majeed Sheikh, resident of Nala Sunbahri, Magam.

Approximately 18 grams of charas-like substance was recovered from his possession. In this regard, FIR No. 172/2026 under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Kokernag.

In a separate operation in Hiller Arhama, Kokernag, police apprehended Rayees Ahmad Ganie son of Gh. Rashool Ganie, resident of Shelipora, Achabal.

Approximately 40 grams of charas-like substance was recovered from his possession. Accordingly, FIR No. 173/2026 under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Kokernag.

Meanwhile, Dooru Police, during routine patrolling in the Pollie area, apprehended a suspicious person who was identified as Amir Ahmad Najar son of Nazir Ahmad Najar, resident of Kapran. Approximately 90 grams of charas was recovered during intense frisking.

A case under the relevant provisions of law has been registered at Police Station Dooru, and further investigation is underway.

In another operation, a police party from Police Post Sangam apprehended Sahil Rashid Sheikh, son of Abdul Rashid Sheikh, resident of Charsoo, Awantipora, during patrolling in the Sangam area. Approximately 1.78 kg of a ganja-like substance was recovered from the bag he was carrying.

Accordingly, FIR No. 308/2026 under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Bijbehara, and further investigation has been taken up.

Anantnag Police reiterated its firm resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks and take strict legal action against those involved in the narcotics trade.

Kolkata, Oct 16: A Japanese delegation visited the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system in Mundka-Bakkarwala on Friday on the sidelines of the 12th India–Japan Joint Working Group Meeting on Roads and Road Transportation.

The MLFF system provided insights into India’s technology-driven initiatives for seamless and efficient highway travel.

At the MLFFs, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) uses a combination of RFID-based FASTag electronic toll collection, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and AI analytics to allow vehicles to pass through charging points without stopping, slowing down or remaining in a designated lane.

MLFFs have already been installed at Choryasi in Gujarat, Mundka in Delhi, Gharaunda in Haryana and Daulatpura and Manoharpura in Rajasthan.

While 12 further locations have been awarded for conversion, tenders have also been launched covering an additional 104 toll plazas around the country.

The MLFF at Choryasi on the Surat–Bharuch section of NH-48 was the first to become operational.

The one at Mundka on Delhi’s Urban Extension Road-II was the second.

The expansion plan represents a significant shift from India’s traditional barrier-based toll plazas.

Rather than moving immediately to satellite-based toll collection, the Indian government has opted to build on the country’s established FASTag system and combine it with ANPR and AI.

Expert committees had recommended further consideration of GPS-based barrier-free tolling because of security, privacy and operational control issues, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has indicated.

FASTag and ANPR/AI was thus selected as the technology for the current MLFF programme.

The session of the India–Japan Joint Working Group on Roads and Road Transportation Sector was successfully held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

Discussions focused on advanced construction technologies, bridge and tunnel engineering, sustainable infrastructure and digital innovations, fostering the exchange of technical expertise and best practices.

“The meeting reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to safe, sustainable and technology-driven road infrastructure, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047,” the Ministry said in a statement.