New Delhi, Sep 9: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has secured the conviction of two drug traffickers in connection with the seizure of 1,127 kg of Ganja in Maharashtra, in a major success in its efforts to combat drug trafficking and further the vision of a ‘Drug-Free India’.

The Additional Sessions Judge, Special NDPS Court, Biloli, Nanded, Maharashtra, on September 8, convicted two accused persons, Gokul Narayan Rajput and Sunil Yadav Mahajan, in connection with the seizure made by the NCB Mumbai Zonal Unit.

The case pertains to the interception of a truck bearing registration number MH-26-AD-2165 on November 15, 2021, near Manjram village in Naigaon taluka of Nanded district, Maharashtra. During a search of the vehicle, NCB officers recovered 49 bags containing 1,127 kg of Ganja. The contraband, along with the truck and other articles, was seized in accordance with the law.

Rajput, the driver of the truck, and Mahajan, the co-driver, were arrested in connection with the case. The prosecution established before the court that both accused were in conscious possession of a commercial quantity of Ganja and had failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for their possession.

After examining the evidence and material on record, the court held that the prosecution had proved the offence beyond reasonable doubt under Section 20(b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

The court subsequently convicted both accused and sentenced each of them to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh. In case of default in payment of the fine, each accused will undergo an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment.

The court also ordered the confiscation of the truck and other relevant seized articles in accordance with the provisions of the NDPS Act, subject to the statutory process.

The conviction underscores the NCB’s commitment to effective investigation and prosecution of drug trafficking cases and its resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks, thereby contributing to the vision of a ‘Drug-Free India’.

The NCB has also appealed to citizens to support its fight against drug trafficking. Information related to the sale, trafficking or distribution of narcotic drugs can be shared by calling the MANAS-National Narcotics Helpline toll-free number, 1933. The identity of the informer will be kept confidential.

New Delhi, Sep 8: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Tuesday that the civic agency will demolish a dilapidated building next to the site of the ill-fated paying guest (PG) building that collapsed in Satya Niketan killing seven people two days ago.

Sharing information about the plan to pull down the unsafe structure, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on social media platform X on Tuesday said, “On the instructions of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been directed to demolish the dilapidated building adjoining the accident site in the interest of public safety.”

“The belongings of students inside the building are being safely removed by Delhi Fire Service personnel in a systematic manner. All students and local residents are requested to cooperate with the authorities,” the CMO added.

The demolition order comes in the backdrop of the strict action of suspending five civic officials responsible for checking illegal construction in the colony located close to Delhi University’s South Campus in Dhaula Kuan.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Chief Minister visited AIIMS and met students injured in the Satya Niketan building collapse.

During the visit, CM Gupta inquired about their treatment and reassured their family members of full help from the government and doctors.

“The government will bear the full cost of treatment for all the students injured in the accident and will provide them every possible assistance,” CM Gupta said on social media platform X.

In another development, the Delhi Police dismissed claims that mobile phone jammers were installed to restrict communication during the rescue operation at the building collapse site in Satya Niketan.

Issuing a fact check, the police said, “Rumours of mobile jammers at the Satya Niketan rescue site are completely false.”

“Networks are fully operational. Delhi Police, NDRF, and Fire teams are coordinating seamlessly via mobile. Media and citizens are broadcasting live from the site with no disruption,” the police said in a statement.

“Do not spread engagement-driven misinformation. Rely on verified official updates only,” Delhi Police said.

The five-storey building, known as ‘Hostel Daze’, was operating as a boys’ PG, and several students were staying there when the incident took place around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday in which seven people were killed, the police added.

Portions of an adjacent building also collapsed, according to eyewitnesses, adding to concerns over the safety and structural condition of buildings in the area.

Three members of the family associated with the PG building have been arrested.

Lucknow, Sep 8: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said the situation in the state before 2017 was marked by poor law and order, widespread criminal activities, and the dominance of mafia elements, with ‘One District, One Mafia’ becoming its identity.

Addressing the two-day ‘UP Textile Conclave-2026’, the Chief Minister welcomed entrepreneurs, investors, exporters, traditional weavers, handloom operators, industry representatives, and young people associated with the textile sector.

“First of all, I extend a heartfelt welcome and greetings to all the distinguished entrepreneurs, investors and exporters from the textile sector across the country, as well as traditional weavers, handloom operators, all the dignitaries and young friends who see their future in this sector,” he said.

Highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s long-standing textile traditions, the Chief Minister said the state’s textile heritage had historical links with India’s cultural and economic development.

He said that when gifts of clothing were presented by the King of Kashi at Yudhishthira’s Rajasuya Yagya, ancient texts such as the Mahabharata made references to silk and pure cotton garments. Also referring to the period of Lord Ram’s exile, he said religious scriptures mention Mata Janaki receiving divine garments at a sage’s ashram.

“The textiles produced in India, particularly those made in Uttar Pradesh, were not only in demand in India but also in markets around the world,” he said.

“If you look at Roman culture or Greek culture, there was a huge demand there as well for these textiles made in India and Uttar Pradesh. This means that the tradition of sending these products from here to other places existed even then,” the Chief Minister said.

He also highlighted several major textile and manufacturing centres across the state, including Varanasi’s silk sarees, Bhadohi’s carpets, Lucknow’s chikankari, and Kanpur’s textile, leather, and industrial manufacturing ecosystem.

CM Adityanath also mentioned Agra’s footwear and allied manufacturing sector, Sitapur’s textile manufacturing capabilities, and Meerut’s sports goods industry and the potential for technical textiles.

“These are not merely textile clusters of Uttar Pradesh. They represent different facets of Uttar Pradesh’s textile heritage and industrial capabilities. These different facets visible across different regions draw our attention to the potential of the textile sector in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

Recalling the situation in Uttar Pradesh before 2017, Adityanath claimed the state’s law and order situation was in disarray and alleged that mafia groups had established parallel systems of governance in several districts.

“Friends, what the situation in Uttar Pradesh was like before 2017 is not hidden from anyone. Law and order in the state was in disarray,” he said.

“In every district, a parallel government run by the mafia operated. In other words, ‘One District, One Mafia’ had become the identity of Uttar Pradesh. Across the state, the industries of murder, extortion, illegal occupation, goon tax, and kidnapping were flourishing. Professional mafias and goons operated their own system parallel to the government,” he claimed.

He further alleged that the prevailing environment had affected the safety of women, traders and potential investors.

“At that time, neither daughters were safe, nor traders were safe. Investors would come from outside with dreams of doing business and return with a slip of paper from the mafia demanding payment,” Adityanath claimed.

The Chief Minister also alleged that festivals and celebrations could not be conducted peacefully because of frequent disturbances and riots.

“No festival or celebration could be held peacefully. In other words, disturbances would begin before the festivities. Across the state, there would be a major riot every third day, with the entire state engulfed in the flames of riots. Major riots took place in Bareilly, Kosi Kalan in Mathura, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur on a large scale,” he said.

He said prolonged curfews and the closure of educational institutions and markets had a direct impact on economic activity.

“Curfews would remain in place for months. Schools and colleges would be closed. If there was a curfew, the markets would remain closed, and if the markets remained closed, business would inevitably come to a standstill. People could not even leave their homes. And when such a situation exists, the economy cannot move forward. A perception had taken hold,” the Chief Minister said.

He said Uttar Pradesh had also acquired a negative perception because of poor infrastructure and inadequate lighting in several areas.

“I always mention this point: before 2017, Uttar Pradesh had come to be perceived as a place where, once the roads became bad and darkness began as soon as evening arrived, you could assume that you had entered the borders of Uttar Pradesh. This was the situation in Uttar Pradesh before 2017,” he said.