A 27-year-old businessman was arrested by Naroda police after 0.77 grams of suspected mephedrone, valued at Rs 1,540, was found in a parcel being delivered through the Porter application near Nana Chiloda Circle in Ahmedabad, police said on Wednesday.

The case came to light after police received a control-room message about a suspicious parcel that had arrived for delivery through the application.

The substance was examined preliminarily by a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officer in the presence of panch witnesses and was found to be mephedrone, a synthetic drug.

Police seized the substance and initially registered an offence against three unidentified mobile phone holders under Sections 8(c), 22(a) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

During the investigation, they traced and arrested the man suspected of ordering the consignment through the parcel.

The accused was identified as Priyang Sanghvi (27). He is a businessman who lives in Aram Park Flats in the Sabarmati area of the city. He is originally from Shirodi village in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district.

According to the police, the suspected method involved using a mobile phone number belonging to a witness to log in to the Porter application.

Drug consignments were allegedly packed separately in zipper bags and sent through the delivery service. An intermediary was allegedly used to distribute the drugs to different customers for sale.

The police said the arrest followed instructions from senior officers to curb the illegal sale and transportation of narcotic substances and detect offences related to them.

“The operation was conducted by Naroda police personnel under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector B M Katariya,” officials said.

The police seized 0.77 grams of mephedrone, valued at Rs 1,540. The investigation concerns the alleged use of a parcel delivery application to transport the substance and its subsequent distribution through an intermediary.

A 75-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death, while a woman and her 25-year-old son were injured in a violent clash between neighbours at Rohda Kala village under Barharia police station limits in Bihar’s Siwan district on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Rama Nandan Prasad, son of the late Garib Bhagat.

The injured were identified as Baby Devi, 44, and her son Kishan Kumar, 25.

The injured were taken to the Barharia Community Health Centre for treatment. While Kishan received primary medical care, Baby Devi was referred to Siwan Sadar Hospital due to her critical condition.

According to Kishan Kumar, his grandfather was sitting outside the house drinking tea while his mother was cooking, and he was asleep.

Hearing a commotion, he went outside and found his grandfather lying in a pool of blood.

He then heard his mother crying from inside the house and rushed in, where he allegedly saw neighbours attacking her with knives. When he tried to intervene, he was also injured in the attack.

Kishan claimed that he had no prior dispute with the neighbours and said the reason for the attack was unclear.

With the help of residents, two alleged assailants were apprehended and handed over to the police.

After receiving information, the Barharia police reached the village and launched an investigation.

A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team was also called to collect evidence from the scene.

The police have set up a camp in the village amid tension following the incident.

Barharia Station House Officer Chhotan Kumar said a patrolling officer was initially sent to the spot, after which he reached the village to investigate the incident.

He said an FIR has been registered against the named accused based on Kishan Kumar’s statement.

The two detained suspects are being questioned, while the motive behind the incident remains unclear.

Police said further action would be taken based on the investigation.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday claimed that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s chair was not safe, and that people, including farmers and younger generations, would bring about a change in the state.

Speaking to reporters, Akhilesh Yadav said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would face growing public opposition and asserted that the government was attempting to retain power amid mounting challenges.

“Even the Chief Minister’s chair is not safe, because the people are going to take it away from him this time. It is not just the people; farmers are also going to take his chair away. Gen Z is keeping a close watch, and Gen Alpha has also arrived. So, this time, his chair is not going to be safe. They can say anything to save it,” he said.

The Samajwadi Party leader further said the BJP itself was responsible for the problems facing the state and that removing the party from power was the only way to resolve the crisis.

“The BJP must be removed. The BJP itself is the real crisis. The crisis will end only when the BJP is removed. There is only one crisis, and that is the Bharatiya Janata Party,” he said.

Akhilesh Yadav also accused the ruling party of exploiting people’s religious faith and devotion to protect its government.

Referring to the 2020 incident involving gangster Vikas Dubey, whose vehicle overturned while he was being transported by police, he alleged that the incident had helped the government avert a political crisis.

“Look, have faith. You can have faith and devotion, but the BJP members are known for playing with people’s faith and devotion. You all know how people’s faith has been exploited. First, it was people’s faith in temples, and now their faith is being exploited in this matter…This government is trying to save itself from falling. Remember, Vikas Dubey’s vehicle did not overturn; they saved the government from collapsing. This show of faith and devotion is being used to protect their government,” he said.

Akhilesh Yadav also raised concerns over the alleged circulation of voice messages targeting voters, questioning how BJP leaders had obtained voter lists that were not publicly available to everyone.

“Voter lists are not available to everyone, but they are available to all BJP leaders. Voice messages are being sent, and calls are being made. How did the voter lists reach the ministers in the BJP government?” he asked.

He alleged that ministers had obtained voter data and engaged a company to circulate messages, adding that such communications could not be sent without access to the relevant information.

The SP chief also accused the BJP government of electoral malpractice and alleged that officials in the Education Department, including BSAs and DIOSs, were intimidating voters through phone calls.

Akhilesh Yadav warned that officials allegedly involved in such activities could face legal consequences if evidence emerged against them. He urged the Election Commission to remain impartial and called on government officials to perform their duties without political interference.

“If they will be political workers, then they should prepare to go to jail,” he said, alleging irregularities in the education sector, including corruption in transfers and postings.

Referring to his earlier remarks during the elections in Ayodhya, Akhilesh Yadav said those allegedly involved in electoral malpractice would eventually face legal action.

“No one will save you. Today or tomorrow, whenever there is a change, the law will send them to jail,” he said.