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Monday,10-August-2026
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Sharad Pawar junks Ajit Pawar’s ‘political earthquake’ rumours

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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday rubbished all speculation that his nephew, Ajit Pawar would trigger a fresh ‘political earthquake’ by joining hands with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“There’s no truth in the talks about Ajit Pawar… He has not called any (MLAs) meetings today… We are all working unitedly to strengthen the NCP,” Pawar said when besieged by mediapersons.

“What’s in your mind is not in our thoughts,” added Pawar for added effect, amid unconfirmed reports claiming that Ajit Pawar commands the support of at least 40 NCP MLAs.

Earlier in the day, the Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Ajit Pawar also scotched all the rumours and so-called discussions as ‘false’, while his cousin and MP Supriya Sule declined to speak on the issue.

Other senior party leaders have also repeatedly scoffed at the intense speculation over the past few days on the issue — that Ajit Pawar would do to the NCP what ‘Eknath Shinde’ did to the Shiv Sena in June 2022 — as some NCP legislators have come out openly in support of him (Ajit Pawar).

Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders like Congress state President Nana Patole and Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader of Opposition (Council) Ambadas Danve have also expressed full faith that Ajit Pawar may not resort to any such political adventures at this juncture.

Some leaders have pointed fingers at the BJP accusing it of deliberately attempting to divide the Opposition and trying to divert attention from its failures on various fronts.

Crime

Security guard arrested for raping Ahmedabad student shot in leg while trying to flee police custody

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Ahmedabad: A rape accused in Ahmedabad was shot in the leg by police after he attempted to escape custody and snatched a police inspector’s service revolver during a late-night recovery panchnama in the Hebatpur area, officials said on Monday.

The accused, identified as Dhram Singh, had been arrested on Sunday in connection with the rape case of a 23-year-old interior design student at a paying guest accommodation in Anandnagar.

He was taken to Hebatpur later that night to recover the woman’s mobile phone, which police said he had stolen after the assault.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7) Shivam Varma said that Dhram Singh had undergone medical tests and DNA sampling before being taken to the location for the recovery proceedings.

“During the process of this recovery panchnama, the accused, in an attempt to escape police custody, tried to snatch the service revolver of Inspector RS Parmar. A scuffle ensued, and Constable Virendrasinh was hurt in the process. An officer fired two rounds at the leg of the accused, one of which hit him. The condition of the accused and the injured constable is stable,” DCP Varma told reporters outside the hospital.

Both Dhram Singh and the injured police constable were taken to GMERS Sola Civil Hospital for treatment.

The accused was brought to the hospital on a stretcher with a bandage around his right foot. Senior police officers, including the JCP and DCP, also reached the hospital following the firing.

Police indicated a separate case would be registered against Dhram Singh at Bodakdev Police Station in connection with the alleged attempt to escape custody and seize the officer’s firearm.

Officials said the investigation would examine the circumstances of the confrontation and the police response.

The latest development comes a day after Dhram Singh was arrested following a manhunt involving more than 10 teams from Anandnagar police, the Local Crime Branch and Crime Branch.

Police allege that the accused, who is from Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh and had joined the residential complex as a security guard only days before the incident, attacked the student on the terrace of the building on Saturday night.

According to JCP Neeraj Badgujar, the accused allegedly placed a wire around her neck, causing her to lose consciousness, before sexually assaulting her and fleeing with her mobile phone.

Police said the accused was arrested within hours of the complaint. The investigation into the rape and the circumstances surrounding the subsequent confrontation with police are continuing.

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National News

PM Naremdra Modi praises Lovlina for objecting to distorted India map at Glasgow restaurant

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New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised silver medalist boxer Lovlina Borgohain for raising an objection after spotting a distorted map of India at a restaurant in Glasgow during the 2026 Commonwealth Games, saying her gesture would be remembered for a long time.

At his meeting with India’s Commonwealth champions following their trip to Scotland, Modi mentioned the incident. After the meeting, Lovlina, who had won a silver medal in the women’s 75kg event, was questioned by the Prime Minister about it.

“Kya hua wo restaurant waale se jhagda kar rahi thi? (What happened, you were fighting with that restaurant guy?)” PM Modi asked the Assam boxer.

Lovlina laughed and said that she had raised the point only since she was uncomfortable with the distorted map, even though the team were celebrating their success at the Commonwealth Games.

“It was a happy occasion sir, we were celebrating and I didn’t like to see the distorted flag. I politely told them and they have made the changes also,” Lovlina replied.

Narendra Modi praised the boxer for having noticed the problem even though she was in a celebratory mood and stated that her actions had importance that went beyond the immediate moment.

“To be able to recognise the significance of that map at a time when you were celebrating, and the Games were over, I can tell you truthfully that video was not ordinary. It will be remembered by people for a very long time,” he said.

The incident took place following India’s boxing team having a historic performance in Glasgow, bringing home a total of 10 medals. This consisted of seven gold and three silver medals, one of which was Lovlina’s silver in the women’s 75kg event. At a celebratory dinner with the members of the Indian boxing team, Lovlina noticed that the map of India on the restaurant’s menu was missing the Northeast. She then took the issue up with the restaurant management.

“Please don’t take this the wrong way. I felt a little hurt by this. In the map of India, our Northeast is missing. Yes, even outside, the map that’s displayed has cut off the Northeast. As someone from the Northeast, that really hurts us. That’s all I wanted to say. Please keep this in mind next time. Thank you so much,” she told the restaurant staff.

After Lovlina drew the restaurant’s attention to the matter, it then altered the map.

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Crime

Mamata Banerjee faces protest in Bengal during visit to kin of Trinamool worker killed in police custody

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Kolkata, August 9: Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday faced protests from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and supporters while visiting the family of a Trinamool Congress worker who allegedly died in police custody in Kanchrapara of North 24 Parganas district.

Demonstrators surrounded Mamata Banerjee’s car, hurled mud and a torn slipper towards her, and shouted slogans calling her a “thief”.

Following the attack, the former West Bengal Chief Minister told media persons, “Large stones were hurled at my car by anti-social elements, right in front of the police. The attack on the vehicle was so severe that if the windows had been open, my head would have been split open. We could have all been killed. This happened right in front of the police. I have never seen anything like this. What is going on? The police are providing protection to the BJP.”

The BJP alleged that the former Chief Minister had come to Kanchrapara to incite trouble and that ordinary citizens were protesting against it.

On the other hand, Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the BJP-led state government and targeted Police Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who is also the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

The Trinamool Congress supremo alleged that the BJP orchestrated the incident using their “goons”.

“Forget about security; the police are protecting lumpens! Bengal has fallen into the hands of lumpens. We will file a case,” she said.

The three-time former Chief Minister Banerjee claimed that large bricks were thrown at her car.

“My head could have been split open; I could have died here. The police are protecting the BJP,” she complained.

Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen accompanied Mamata Banerjee. They too vented their anger against the current BJP administration after facing the protests.

Kalyan Banerjee said, ” Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is running his rule through the police and getting work done by the mafia.”

Police had to surround the former Chief Minister’s car as it passed through the roads of Bijpur in the same district.

The husband of the former Trinamool Congress Councillor of Kanchrapara Municipality in North 24 Parganas district died in police custody, the family alleged on Saturday.

The deceased’s name is Birju Keot. His wife Jenny Sharma Keot, the former Trinamool Councillor of Ward number 23 of Kanchrapara Municipality, alleged that her husband died after being beaten up in the jail.

There was no reaction from the police in connection with this incident.

The deceased Trinamool worker’s family on Saturday alleged that Birju was tortured in police custody after Friday midnight.

Jenny also alleged that her husband was beaten with his hands and feet tied.

A source from Halishahar police station said that Birju was found lying ill in the jail on after Friday midnight. He was rushed to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Nadia district’s Kalyani where the doctors declared him dead.

Initial speculation is that he may have died of a heart attack. However, the real cause of death is not yet certain.

It is also not known whether there are any injury marks on his body.

The cause of death will be clear only after the autopsy report is received, a police source said.

After meeting the Keot family on Sunday, Mamata Banerjee remarked, “There is no such thing as law and order left in this state.”

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