Mumbai: Acting on specific information, NCB Mumbai seized 1080 bottles of Codeine Based Cough Syrup (CBCS) weighing 108 kg and arrested N. Sheikh in Mumbai on August 8. He had attempted to smuggle the seized CBCS bottles, which were being transported in a passenger bus plying between Gujarat and Mumbai. The seized drugs were to be sold in Mumbai, Bhiwandi and adjoining areas. During the spot investigation, a distributor based in Gujarat was identified. Immediately, a follow-up team left for Gujarat and after extensive field surveillance, a distributor and his warehouse located in Vadodara, Gujarat were seized from where another 13938 CBCS bottles and 12,240 Tramadol tablets were seized. In an attempt to avoid signs of diversion of CBCS bottles, the numbers were found to be tampered with in several CBCS bottles. Moreover, several incriminating documents including fake receipts which were used to convert NRx i.e. narcotics based medicines were also seized.

During the investigation, it was noted that N. Sheikh, who was primarily operating from Bhiwandi area of ​​Thane district in Maharashtra, had earlier been arrested by Maharashtra Police in another NDPS case. His area of ​​operation was Bhiwandi.

It was also informed that the distributor based in Gujarat is wanted in NDPS cases registered by the police.

Tramadol and CBCS are strictly prescription based opioid drugs with legitimate medical use. Tramadol alters the central nervous system (CNS) and is considered to manage pain. Its non-prescribed use causes respiratory depression, rapid heart rate which can lead to fatal outcomes. It has severe withdrawal effects which makes it a dangerous substance for drug abuse. CBCS is commonly used to treat common cough and cold. However, codeine, being an opioid, has addictive and CNS depressant effects, the overdose of which can cause severe respiratory problems, liver and kidney damage with fatal consequences.

Acting on specific information, NCB Mumbai seized 1.060 kg of hashish during a search of the house of a woman named AJ Sheikh in Ghatkopar, Mumbai on August 12. The seized hashish was concealed in household goods and was recently purchased for sale in Mumbai and adjoining areas.

During interrogation, it has been revealed that the arrival of hashish was stopped to a great extent due to stringent drug enforcement measures and the upcoming festive season, due to which the seized hashish was bought by AJ Sheikh and his drug associates at high prices to take advantage of the opportunity. Other key drug associates have been identified and are being traced for their arrest.

Marijuana is a naturally occurring drug with a high THC content that is extracted from the cannabis plant, which is commonly grown in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Prolonged use of marijuana impairs cognitive and reflex development, with adverse effects on memory.

Both cases are under investigation. Both operations highlight the NCB’s continued efforts to dismantle organised drug gangs and target habitual criminals who fuel the drug ecosystem.

Bengaluru, Aug 13: The Karnataka bandh called by Kannada and pro-farmer organisations protesting the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu received a mixed response across the state on Thursday, with normal public life largely unaffected in state capital Bengaluru and across the state.

Kannada activists were detained by police as a precautionary measure, while schools, colleges, shops, markets and commercial establishments functioned normally.

The bandh has been called to protest the directions of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Police have deployed tight security across Bengaluru and appealed to protesters to maintain peace. They have also warned against forcibly shutting down shops and other establishments.

President of the Federation of Kannada Organisations (also known as Kannada Okkoota) and Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha President Vatal Nagaraj was detained by police after he joined the protest in support of the bandh.

Meanwhile, major Kannada and farmer organisations are scheduled to meet Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at his residence in Sadashivanagar at 10 a.m. on Thursday to submit a memorandum opposing the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

In Bengaluru, schools and colleges have continued to function as usual, with students attending classes from the morning. No holiday has been declared for educational institutions across the state. Parents’ organisations decided not to support the bandh as classes and examinations are being conducted and students should not be inconvenienced.

Public transport services have also largely remained unaffected across Bengaluru and other parts of the state. Shops, markets and other commercial establishments have opened as usual, with most districts extending only moral support to the bandh.

However, as a precautionary measure, bus services from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu have been temporarily suspended, causing some inconvenience to passengers travelling to the neighbouring state.

In Ramanagara, protests intensified at Ijuru Circle, one of the city’s major junctions. Activists of Karunadu Sene and the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Praveen Shetty faction) staged a large demonstration against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Carrying empty pots, the protesters sought to draw the government’s attention to the drinking water shortage faced by several parts of the state.

Despite the statewide bandh call, normal life has continued in most places, with authorities maintaining heightened security and monitoring protests to prevent any untoward incidents.

New Delhi, Aug 13: The Lok Sabha, on its last working day of the Monsoon Session, was adjourned sine die on Thursday. The adjournment followed the recitation of Vande Mataram in the House, with all Parliamentarians, from Treasury to Opposition benches, standing in respect for the National Song.

The House proceedings started on a stormy note, with the Opposition members engaging in sloganeering and holding placards while trying to corner the government over ‘jawab do, jawab do’ chants.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla made a brief appeal to maintain order and urged all the members to stand up for the recitation of the National Song.

As the 3.10-minute-long National Song was recited, all the MPs stood in rapt attention while some sang along.

What made the moment remarkable was the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in the House, a grouse held by the Opposition throughout the stretch of the Monsoon Session, particularly after the passage of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill last month, aimed at tackling widespread cheating and paper leaks.

The recitation of the full National Song in the Lower House comes days after the Presidential assent to the Vande Mataram Bill, which brought it on equal footing with the National Anthem.

As per the Home Ministry guidelines issued in February this year, the recitation of all six stanzas of the National Song has been made mandatory at all official functions and gatherings, with all protocols to be followed as accorded to the National Anthem.

Parliament passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, last month. The legislation gave Vande Mataram the same statutory protection as that of the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana. After the President’s assent, the bill has become law and offences will be punishable with imprisonment up to three years, a fine, or both.

The Lok Sabha proceedings of the Monsoon Session, from July 20 to August 13, remained marred by the Government-Opposition face-off with little legislative business conducted in the House.

Among the key legislations cleared by the House were the NEET Amendment Bill, some Taxation bills and the recommendation of the FCRA amendment bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).