Category: National

In a chilling case of premeditated murder, popular social media influencer Kanchan, who had nearly 4 lakh Instagram followers, was brutally strangled to death in Bathinda. Bathinda SSP Amneet Kondal confirmed that the murder was planned and executed by a group of individuals who believed her online content was “objectionable”. The main conspirator, Amritpal Singh, had earlier warned Kanchan to stop posting what he termed as “vulgar” videos. According to SSP Kondal, “He, along with others, hatched a conspiracy and they strangled her to death at an isolated location on Tuesday night.” Accused and Arrests Two individuals — Jaspreet Singh (32) from Mehron village in Moga and Nimaratjeet Singh (21) from Harike in Tarn Taran — were arrested around 1 am on Thursday. Both were unemployed and often seen wearing ‘nihang’ attire to possibly disguise themselves. However, Amritpal Singh, the key accused, remains absconding. Investigations also revealed that Kanchan had previously received threats from Canada-based terrorist Arsh Dalla, warning her against uploading “inappropriate” videos. Timeline of Events On June 7, Amritpal had visited Kanchan at her residence in Ludhiana, seeking help for promotional work in Bathinda. The following day, he convinced her to visit Bathinda. On June 9, he contacted her again, and she agreed to travel. After 11 pm that night, Kanchan’s mother, Girija Devi, lost all contact with her daughter. Kanchan’s decomposed body was found two days later inside her car, which was parked outside Adesh University. CCTV footage helped police trace the accused. Investigators found that Kanchan was lured to a workshop under the pretext of getting her car repaired. During an argument there, Jaspreet, who had concealed a ‘kamarkassa’ (waistband) under his shirt, used it to strangle her. To mislead police, the body was later shifted and dumped in her own car. Cremation and Background Due to the condition of the body, Kanchan was cremated in Bathinda on Thursday, as her family was unable to transport the remains back to Ludhiana. Her mother revealed that Kanchan, from a family of migrant workers, frequently traveled for promotional work and was fluent in Punjabi. Police have launched a manhunt for Amritpal Singh and are investigating possible links to extremist outfits, including overseas threats. This gruesome murder has sparked outrage online, highlighting the rising risks faced by female influencers and the need for better digital and physical safety protocols.

The death toll from the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad has risen to 270 as of Saturday, making it the deadliest aviation disaster globally in over a decade. Families of the victims are growing increasingly distressed as delays in identifying and handing over charred bodies prolong their grief and confusion. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and crew en route to Britain’s Gatwick Airport, crashed just seconds after take-off on Thursday. The aircraft lost altitude rapidly and erupted into a fireball upon striking buildings below, including the hostel of B.J. Medical College. Of all those on board, only one person miraculously survived. Dr. Dhaval Gameti, president of the Junior Doctors Association at B.J. Medical College, confirmed the recovery of at least 270 bodies from the crash site. Due to the severity of the fire, most bodies were badly charred, making identification extremely challenging. Authorities are relying on dental records and DNA profiling to identify victims. Forensic teams, working around the clock, are collecting dental samples to cross-match with existing medical and radiographic records. Dr. Jaishankar Pillai, a forensic dentist, reported that dental records for 135 of the charred victims have already been gathered for matching. Meanwhile, heartbroken families continue to wait outside hospitals and mortuaries, desperate for answers. Rafiq Abdul Hafiz Memon, who lost four relatives in the crash, expressed his anguish: “We have lost our children. We don’t understand anything. Please help us get information. Tell us when they will release the bodies.” Another grieving father, awaiting the body of his son Harshad Patel, was told that DNA profiling would take up to 72 hours. “Authorities are trying to help,” he said, “but our patience is running out.” The incident has cast a dark shadow over Air India, which has been undergoing a restructuring process under the Tata Group since 2022. While investigations are ongoing, preliminary inquiries are focusing on possible mechanical failures, including issues with engine thrust, open landing gear, and flap settings during take-off. Tata Group Chairman N. Chandrasekaran stated that the company is fully committed to understanding what went wrong, but added, “We don’t know right now.” As the investigation unfolds, families of the deceased continue to grapple with a harrowing wait for closure, hoping that answers—and their loved ones—will be returned to them soon.

In a major law and order incident, violent clashes broke out in Maheshtala, West Bengal, on the night of June 11-12, 2025, leading to the arrest of 40 individuals and injuries to several police personnel. The violence began on Wednesday afternoon in Ward Number 7 of Maheshtala following a dispute over the setting up of a shop, which escalated into a communal confrontation. According to officials, the situation turned volatile when allegations surfaced regarding an attack on a place of worship. What began as a local dispute soon spiraled out of control as two groups clashed and mobs began pelting stones at police personnel who arrived to control the unrest. Additional Director General (Law and Order), Jawed Shamim, confirmed that 28 individuals were arrested by the West Bengal Police, and four officers from the force sustained injuries. Kolkata Police, which also has jurisdiction in the area, arrested 12 more individuals, with about a dozen of their personnel—including a Deputy Commissioner—reportedly injured in the incident. Seven FIRs have been registered so far, with four filed at Nadial Police Station under Kolkata Police. The area, which falls under overlapping jurisdiction of Kolkata and West Bengal Police, was heavily patrolled on Thursday morning as prohibitory orders were imposed to prevent further escalation. Shops and commercial establishments remained shut, and several motorbikes and other vehicles that had been vandalised during the violence were removed by police teams. Police made public announcements enforcing the prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS), urging residents not to assemble in crowds. Despite the Rabindra Nagar Police Station being just 100 metres from the epicenter of the violence, locals criticized the police response, claiming the deployment was inadequate to handle the large mob. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari staged protests at the state police headquarters, Bhabani Bhawan, and sought permission to visit Maheshtala along with an MLA to meet victims and express solidarity. In a post on social media platform X, Adhikari appealed to the SP of Diamond Harbour Police District and the DGP of West Bengal Police not to obstruct the visit. Meanwhile, BJP MLAs have warned of stalling proceedings in the West Bengal Assembly over the incident. In response, senior TMC leader and State Minister Firhad Hakim assured the public that strict action would be taken against those responsible for attacking police personnel. This incident follows similar communal tensions in the state just weeks ago, when violence in Samserganj and Dhulian in Murshidabad district in April claimed three lives and left hundreds homeless.