National News
World Jr C’ships: India beat Korea in quarters to assure first-ever mixed team medal
Guwahati, Oct 9: India rode on the energy of the vociferous fans and the knowledge of the home conditions to beat Korea and assure themselves of a historic BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships medal at the National Centre of Excellence, here on Thursday.
The hosts came through a nerve-wracking quarterfinal clash that lasted almost three hours and needed the team to pick themselves up after a heartbreaking reversal in the opening set to beat Korea 44-45, 45-30, 45-33 to set up a semi-final clash against Asian U-19 Mixed Team champions Indonesia, who defeated Chinese Taipei 45-35, 45-35.
The semi-final appearance also assured India of their first-ever mixed-team medal in the history of the BWF World Junior Championships.
The way India had lined-up for the quarterfinals, it was quite clear that they were heavily relying on their singles players to bail them out in case the Koreans made the most of their doubles strength.
The first set went accordingly as Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu went down 5-9 in the first boys’ doubles against Cho Hyeong Woo and Lee Hyeong Woo. The girls’ doubles combination of Vennala K and Reshika U managed to reduce the deficit by one point by beating Cheon Hye In and Moon In Seo 10-9 before Rounak Chouhan brought them within one point by beating Choi Ah Seung 11-9.
However, a 4-9 loss for C Lalramsanga and Aanya Bisht in the mixed doubles against Lee and Cheon meant that Unnati Hooda had to win 15 points before her opponent Kim Han Bi could reach nine. Unnati began strongly by taking a 3-0 lead, but Kim managed to draw level at 6-6, and it felt that the set was slipping from India’s hands.
However, Unnati dug deep, played long rallies to win five straight points to build pressure on her opponent, and then went on to draw level at 44-44. However, her serve on set point landed in the net, and the distraught Unnati just dropped her racquet in despair.
India made two substitutions ahead of the second set, with Lalramsanga replacing Gobburu in boys’ doubles and Vishakha Toppo coming in for Bisht.
Lalramsanga and Bhargav then gave India a positive start with a 9-7 win over Cho and Lee and Vennala and Reshika extended that advantage to six points. India never looked back thereafter and by the time Unnati took the court for the second set, they were already leading by nine points and all she had to do was wrap up the set.
The third set started in the same manner as Lalramsanga and Bhargav gave India a 9-4 lead but Vennala and Reshika ran out of steam after the first 10 points and the Korean combination of Cheon and Moon put their team ahead by two points.
Chouhan then stepped up turned the match decisively in India’s favour with a 11-4 win over Choi and gave India a five point lead. Lalramsanga and Bisht then increased that lead to seven points and Unnati then hammered Kim 9-4 to kick-off the celebrations.
Speaking about the tactical changes in the second set, India’s doubles coach Ivan Sozonov of Russia said the changes were made because he felt Gobburu and Bisht were feeling the pressure of the occasion and they needed to change something to catch the Koreans off-guard. “I am very happy with the way Lalramsanga played and also how Rounak and Unnati handled the pressure,” he added.
Badminton Association of India secretary general Sanjay Mishra was understandably elated as BAI and the team management had set their eyes on winning a mixed-team medal. “The players had been preparing at this very venue for the last few months and we were confident that we could win a medal if they played to their potential. I am very happy that everyone stood up when it mattered today and I am sure they have the ability to beat Indonesia and reach the final,” he added.
Crime
Crime shock: Key witness gunned down, elderly couple found murdered in Bihar

Patna, July 21: Two shocking incidents of violent crime were reported in Bihar on Monday, with a key witness in a murder case shot dead in Jehanabad and a retired bank employee along with his wife found murdered in their Muzaffarpur residence. Police have launched separate investigations into both cases.
Police have launched separate investigations into both cases.
A man was shot dead by armed assailants near Dakra Mor under the Makhdumpur police station area of Jehanabad district. The deceased has been identified as Vijay Yadav, a resident of Parsauna village.
According to police, Vijay Yadav was returning home with his son after getting wheat milled when more than a dozen motorcycle-borne criminals intercepted them. The attackers allegedly first tried to seize his son, who managed to escape, before opening fire on Vijay Yadav.
He died on the spot after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, while the assailants fled. The victim’s son, Amarnath Yadav, alleged that his father was murdered to prevent him from testifying in court.
According to the family, Vijay Yadav was the principal witness in the murder case of his elder son and was scheduled to depose before the court on August 6. They claim the accused eliminated him to influence the ongoing trial.
Police reached the scene soon after the incident, recovered the body, and sent it to Sadar Hospital, Jehanabad, for post-mortem examination. They said all possible angles, including the alleged witness-related motive, are being examined, while raids are underway to arrest those involved.
In a separate incident, a retired Punjab National Bank (PNB) cashier, Ashok Kunwar, and his wife Neelam Devi were found murdered inside their residence in Muzaffarpur late Monday evening.
The case came to light after the couple’s son, Dr. Nikhil Kumar, noticed suspicious activity through CCTV cameras connected to his mobile phone. The footage reportedly showed two unidentified men entering the premises and captured his mother running towards the rooftop.
When repeated calls to his parents went unanswered, he alerted a neighbour, who discovered the bodies and informed the police.
Police said Ashok Kunwar’s body was found in a bedroom on the second floor with multiple stab injuries, particularly on his back. Neelam Devi’s body was recovered from a room on the third floor. Police found her hands and feet tied with rope and adhesive tape covering her mouth.
Preliminary findings indicate that she may have died due to strangulation. A forensic team and dog squad examined the crime scene. Investigators recovered several items, including gloves, adhesive tape, and a bag, which have been seized for forensic examination.
Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police Kantesh Kumar Mishra said preliminary evidence suggests the murders occurred on Monday evening. CCTV footage has revealed two suspects, whose identities are being established.
Police also plan to question the three tenants residing in the building as part of the investigation. Officials said the exact cause of death and sequence of events will be confirmed after the post-mortem reports and forensic analysis.
National News
‘It went well’: Nadda on meeting with CJP members

New Delhi, July 21: Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Tuesday said that his meeting with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) members was “fine”.
Two representatives of the CJP met Nadda at his residence on Monday. They submitted a written memorandum outlining the group’s three key demands after holding detailed discussions earlier in the day.
When asked about his talks with the CJP members, Nadda, while arriving for the NDA’s ‘Mangal Milan’ programme, said, “It went well. It (a meeting) always goes well.” However, he did not comment on the “assurances” given to the protestors.
According to government sources, the first meeting took place at around 11:50 a.m., when the CJP delegation presented its demands verbally. Nadda asked the representatives to submit them in writing. At around 4 p.m., the delegation returned and handed over a written memorandum detailing their demands.
The CJP delegation, represented by spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, demanded the release of social activist Sonam Wangchuk without any restrictions on his movement, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET 2026 paper leak controversy.
Government sources said that no assurances were given by Nadda on any of the three demands during the meeting. However, the Union Minister appealed to the protesters to withdraw their month-long sit-in at Jantar Mantar and cooperate with the administration in restoring normalcy in the high-security area near Parliament.
Following the meeting, Nadda took to X and said the discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere and noted that the CJP itself had approached the government seeking talks. He confirmed that the delegation submitted its written petition at around 4 p.m. after extensive discussions that began earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, the demonstrators stayed at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday morning, persistently continuing their protest the day after violent confrontations occurred between them and security forces in Delhi during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ March.
After police dismantled the stage and tents from Jantar Mantar, the protesters reclaimed the area. Following a call from the CJP for the protest to persist, demonstrators began to arrive at Jantar Mantar early Tuesday. A significant presence of police and RAF personnel remained deployed at the location.
The clashes erupted on Monday as thousands of supporters of the CJP and students marched from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over recurring examination irregularities, including the NEET-UG paper leaks.
The Delhi Police have intensified their investigation into the violence that erupted on Monday, and officials are relying extensively on video evidence to identify those involved in the unrest.
Investigators are examining more than 250 videos, including mobile phone recordings, CCTV footage, drone camera visuals and footage captured through police body-worn cameras, to trace the individuals allegedly responsible for the violence.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) at the Connaught Place police station in connection with the commotion and vandalism reported in the area.
National News
Five FIRs registered in violent Delhi protest clashes

New Delhi, July 21: Delhi Police have registered five FIRs so far in connection with the violent clashes that erupted in the National Capital between the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) supporters and the security officials, officials said on Tuesday.
The clashes erupted on Monday as thousands of supporters of the CJP and students marched from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over recurring examination irregularities, including the NEET-UG paper leaks.
FIRs have been registered at Connaught Place and Parliament Street police stations, as well as other stations in the area.
According to the police, more FIRs could be registered in the areas where violence took place.
Currently, efforts are underway to identify the accused using video footage. Investigators are examining more than 250 videos, including mobile phone recordings, CCTV footage, drone camera visuals and footage captured through police body-worn cameras, to trace the individuals allegedly responsible for the violence.
More than 118 police personnel from the Delhi Police and Central Police Forces sustained injuries during “violent protests” in the national capital on Monday.
The injured officers include senior ranks such as Special Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Additional Commissioner, and Deputy Commissioner, who were deployed on duty at the protest site, the Delhi Police said.
According to a statement on the X handle of Delhi Police: “During today’s violent protests, more than 118 police personnel from Delhi Police and Central Police Forces, including Special Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Additional Commissioner, and Deputy Commissioner rank officers deployed on duty, sustained injuries.”
The situation turned violent when protesters attempted to break through the barricades. The police bore a significant brunt of the violence, with over 118 personnel reported injured.
Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar visited the hospital where the injured officers are being treated. He personally met with the personnel, enquired about their well-being, and motivated them.
In a statement, the Commissioner highlighted the force’s dedication, saying, “Every injury on the uniform bears witness to dedication to duty.”
The protests, which began at Jantar Mantar, drew students, opposition leaders, and activists demanding accountability in the education system. Senior police officials have assured a thorough investigation into the violence.
Meanwhile, prohibitory orders remain in place around sensitive areas to prevent any further escalation. The Delhi Police have appealed for calm and urged all parties to maintain peace and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
As political and student groups continue their agitation, the focus remains on ensuring public safety, the police said.
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