Shares of tyre maker CEAT fell more than 9 per cent in early trade on Friday after the company reported a sharp decline in net profit in its June quarter earnings, with higher input costs squeezing margins despite healthy revenue growth.

The stock dropped as much as 9.3 per cent to an intraday low of Rs 3,473.05 on the BSE by 10:18 a.m., compared with its previous close of Rs 3,829.30.

The company reported a 96 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 4 crore in the first quarter of FY27, from Rs 112 crore in the corresponding period last year.

However, revenue from operations rose 22.4 per cent year-on-year to Rs 4,318 crore from Rs 3,529 crore, reflecting healthy demand across business segments.

According to the company, profitability came under pressure due to higher raw material costs triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Managing Director and CEO Arnab Banerjee said the company increased tyre prices in phases to partially offset the rise in input costs while maintaining demand and market share. He added that raw material prices are expected to remain elevated during the second quarter.

The company’s operating performance remained under pressure, with EBITDA declining 5.7 per cent to Rs 365 crore from Rs 387 crore a year earlier. EBITDA margin contracted to 8.5 per cent from 11 per cent.

Over the past one year, CEAT shares have declined around 8 per cent, underperforming the broader market. The stock has fallen more than 8 per cent in the last six months and nearly 6 per cent so far this year.

The stock has touched a 52-week high of Rs 4,431.60 and a 52-week low of Rs 3,006.50 on the BSE.

The sports circles in West Bengal have been rocked by the mysterious disappearance of a national level shooter, Damayanti Sen, from the Howrah Station near Kolkata since Thursday afternoon. The 15-year-old girl could not be traced till Friday morning despite frantic searches by her parents and the police.

As per the missing case registered by her parents at the local police station, Damayanti Sen, who had been recently selected for trials in the national team, went out of her residence on Thursday afternoon to purchase some household items and did not return home after that.

According to her parents, when she left the house to purchase some household items, the teenager was carrying her mobile phone.

After Damayanti Sen did not return home for quite some time, her family members started tracking her whereabouts and enquired about the teenager from her friends, shooting associates and relatives. Finally, after being unable to track her, they registered a missing diary at the local police station.

The police immediately started investigating the matter and finally they tracked the CCTV footage at Howrah Station, where Damayanti Sen was spotted moving between platform number four and platform number five of the station.

“That was the last time that she was spotted and we are now trying to track where she went from there,” said a local police officer. However, she could not be traced till Friday morning.

According to police sources, 15-year-old Damayanti Sen is a resident of 30/2, Umacharan Bhattacharjee Lane in Central Howrah.

According to the statement given to the police by her family members, ever since she was selected for the national team trials, she used to rise early daily for practice. Her parents categorically informed the police that she had no disagreement with any of her family members in the recent past.

Now the family members are wondering about the mystery behind the entire development. Her friends, neighbours and shooting teammates are equally worried about the disappearance of the teenager.

This is not the first time that the shooting circles in West Bengal have been rocked by a controversy.

In March last year, the West Bengal Rifle Association (WBRA) suspended Olympian and former Indian rifle coach Joydeep Karmakar from all shooting activities in the state. His suspension came after he made a series of social media posts in January last year accusing the association of corruption

In a significant breakthrough by police in Maharashtra, a farm labourer was arrested within 24 hours for the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl at her home near the state’s Wardha district, officials said on Friday.

The accused has been identified as 30-year-old Rahul Raju Madavi.

According to investigators, the minor was allegedly raped before being bludgeoned to death with a stone at her house in Wardha. Her’s partially unclothed body was discovered inside the house by her parents, police said.

Based on a complaint filed by the victim’s mother, the police registered a case under charges of murder and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Given the gravity of the matter, the police formed 14 special teams under the guidance of the Sub-Divisional Officer. Three suspects were detained overnight.

Saurabh Kumar Agrawal, Superintendent of Police, Wardha, said that following rigorous interrogation, accused Madavi confessed to committing the rape and murder.

The police suspect that two other individuals may have assisted the accused. Consequently, they have also been taken into custody.

The 12-year-old victim was a fifth-grade student. The family, hailing from Mahagaon in the state’s Yavatmal district, had been living in Wardha for the past five years. They resided in a hut located on a farm.

The accused, a labourer, used to frequent the area where the victim’s family lived, as he worked in a nearby field.

According to the police investigation, the minor’s parents were away from home on Wednesday. Taking advantage, the accused entered the premises and purportedly raped the girl before bludgeoning her to death with a stone.

Further, police stated that the investigation is being conducted in consultation with medical experts, and the rape allegation will be confirmed only after the medical report is received.

Moreover, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the case, with the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) appointed to lead the team. Strict action will be taken against the guilty, and the case will be tried in a fast-track court as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the incident sparked grief and outrage in the area with residents blocking a road for a period, demanding the death penalty for the accused and a fast-track trial. Police have maintained a presence in the village to prevent any further disturbance.