Indian-origin businessman shot dead in ‘targeted’ killing in Canada, Lawrence Bishnoi Gang claims responsibility
Punjabi NRI businessman Darshan Singh Sahsi, 68, who was shot dead in Canada in a targeted attack reportedly by the Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang, was best known for his massive business of recycled clothing. But the problem of illicit drugs — particularly the issue of addiction among youth in Punjab — was a crucial focus in his life.And a standout moment came in 2016, when he delivered a speech at the memorium of his nephew. A 68-year-old Indian-origin businessman was shot dead outside his house in Canada’s British Columbia province in a suspected “targeted incident”, according to media reports and police. “I don’t want to hide the truth. My nephew has died of drug addiction,” Sahsi had said in a poignant speech at the gurdwara in his native place Rajgarh near Doraha, 20 km from Ludhiana.At the ‘bhog ardas’ (concluding prayers) for 36-year-old Jagjit Singh Sahsi, who left behind his wife and a daughter barely six years old, Sahsi addressed the grief of a village but also the community’s grave denial. Before Sahsi spoke, politicians had delivered condolence messages without mentioning drugs. Jagjit was reportedly found dead with a packet of ‘chitta’ (smack/heroin) in his hand.
Raas Purnima Festival at ISKCON Mayapur from November 4 to 6, 2025
The world-famous ISKCON Mayapur Temple is all set to celebrate its traditional Raas Purnima festival with great spiritual fervor and grandeur from November 4 (Tuesday) to November 6 (Thursday), 2025. The three-day-long festival will be held with full religious sanctity and adherence to Vaishnavite rituals and traditions. According to Rasik Gauranga Das, Public Relations Officer of ISKCON Mayapur, eminent scholars and devotees from India and abroad will deliver discourses on the significance and spiritual essence of Raas Leela in multiple languages. The entire temple complex will be illuminated with dazzling lights, while security measures will be strengthened to ensure the safety of pilgrims and visitors. Special arrangements will also be made for the comfort and convenience of thousands of devotees expected to arrive from across the globe. “O mankind, come to Mayapur to witness the traditional Raas Purnima festival and make your life blessed. Raas Leela is not a human pastime but a divine revelation. We welcome you all to Mayapur to experience it,” said Rasik Gauranga Das in his invitation message. In the Vaishnavite tradition, the Raas festival (Raas Utsav) celebrates the divine love of Lord Krishna and Radha along with the Gopis. Scriptures describe Raas as the eternal union of the soul with the Supreme Being. References to both Sharad Raas and Basant Raas are found in ancient texts, symbolizing spiritual bliss and divine union. It is believed that the word ‘Raas’ originates from ‘Rasa’, meaning essence or spiritual delight. Also known as Kartik Purnima, the festival marks one of the most sacred full-moon days in the Hindu calendar, and in Mayapur, it transforms into a mesmerizing celebration of devotion, light, and divine love.
CEO office asks for report of BLO after Suvendu Adhikari’s complaint
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal has sought a detailed report regarding allegations that a Trinamool Congress functionary was included in the list of booth-level officers (BLOs) under the Diamond Harbour Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district. According to sources in the CEO’s office, the report was sought after Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, drew the attention of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to the alleged inclusion of ruling party office bearers in the BLO lists. Adhikari cited the case of Diamond Harbour as an example, claiming that the integrity of the electoral process could be compromised if politically affiliated individuals were appointed to such positions. As per information provided by Adhikari, the officer in question, Md. Alauddin Molla, has been named as a BLO in the Diamond Harbour constituency. He alleged that Molla is an area president of the Trinamool Congress and that his wife, Liala Bibi, serves as an elected Trinamool panchayat member from Block No. 2 of Diamond Harbour. Following the complaint, West Bengal CEO Ariz Aftab Agarwal sought a comprehensive report from the District Magistrate of South 24 Parganas, who also serves as the District Election Officer, to verify the allegations and ascertain whether due procedure was followed in Molla’s appointment as a BLO. Adhikari, speaking yesterday, warned that allowing politically linked individuals to function as booth-level officers could open avenues for manipulation of the electoral process. He urged the Election Commission to intervene and ensure neutrality and transparency while appointing field-level electoral personnel. The selection of BLOs in West Bengal has been contentious in recent months. Earlier, allegations surfaced that contractual government employees and para-teachers were being appointed as BLOs, despite the Election Commission’s guideline specifying that only permanent state government employees and regular teachers in state-run schools should be considered for such roles. Concerns have also been raised over the appointment of electoral registration officers (EROs). The ECI mandates that only officers from the West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) cadre—such as sub-divisional officers, sub-divisional magistrates, or rural development officers—should serve as EROs.
IndiGo Launches First Direct Mumbai–London Heathrow Flight
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, on Sunday operated its inaugural non-stop flight between Mumbai and London Heathrow, marking a major milestone in the carrier’s global expansion strategy. The daily service, operated with IndiGo’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, features a dual-class configuration — standard Economy and IndiGoStretch, the airline’s customized business-class product. Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports, is considered a key gateway for international airlines. IndiGo’s new route connects two of the world’s major financial hubs, strengthening ties between India and the United Kingdom. The airline said the service will cater to strong travel demand between the two countries for education, tourism, and family visits. With this launch, Indian travelers will now have the option to fly with IndiGo to London and connect onward through the carrier’s codeshare partners. Similarly, travelers from London will gain direct access to IndiGo’s network of more than 90 destinations across India. “We are delighted to announce the launch of direct connectivity between Mumbai and London — two vibrant, global financial hubs with deep cultural and economic ties,” said Pieter Elbers, IndiGo’s chief executive officer. “This route is not just a new destination for us; it’s a bridge between cultures, businesses, and families.” Elbers added that the new service represents a defining moment in IndiGo’s journey toward becoming a truly global airline, reaffirming its commitment to connecting India to the world through “efficient, consistent, and reliable service.” IndiGo said the new route aims to make travel between India and the U.K. more seamless, accessible, and affordable.
SI raped me, MP pressured me to falsify medical reports of accused in police cases, says Maha doctor in 4-page suicide note
A 26-year-old female doctor who allegedly committed suicide in Maharashtra’s Satara district, left behind a detailed four page suicide note apart from the inked note on the palm of her hand, stating that a police officer raped her four times and exerted pressure on her to issue fake fitness certificates of accused in police cases. It has now emerged in her note that she was allegedly under pressure not only from police officials but even from a Member of Parliament (MP) and his personal assistants. The woman doctor, who worked as a medical officer at the Phaltan sub-district hospital in Satara, also wrote in the note on her palm of her hand that she had been raped four times by Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne and was subjected to mental and physical abuse for over five months. The woman doctor, who hails from Beed district, had been serving in the hospital for 23 months and was just a month away from completing her bond period for service in a rural area, when she took the extreme step out of frustration. In her four-page suicide note, she wrote that police officers pressured her into issuing fake fitness certificates for accused, many of whom would not even be brought in for a medical examination. When she refused to comply, she would be harassed by Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne and others, she added in her note. “The reason for my death is Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne who raped me and Prashant Bankar who tortured me mentally and physically for 4 months,” she said. Gopal Badne is a police officer, while Prashant Bankar is the son of the landlord in the house where the doctor lived. She had complained 21 times to various authorities, but no action was taken against her tormentors. Recounting a particular instance in her note, the doctor said she had refused to issue a certificate and two personal assistants of an MP had come to the hospital and made her speak to him over the phone. She stated in her note that during that conversation the MP had threatened her indirectly. Her cousin also made similar allegations about the doctor being made to falsify medical certificates. “She had raised complaints on two to three occasions. Despite writing a letter to the Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), no action was taken,” he told media persons. He further added, “In the letter, she asked that if anything happened to her, who would be responsible for it? She also flagged the lack of security at the hospital premises, but nothing happened. She also called the DSP, who said he would call her back, but no one took any action.” A case has been registered against both the accused Badne and Bankar under charges of rape and abetment to suicide, and the police officer has been suspended especially after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took cognisance of the case and directed the Satara Superintendent of Police to take strict action against the accused. “We are investigating the matter on the basis of evidence gathered so far. A case has been lodged in Satara district. The police officer involved in the case has been suspended,” said Sunil Phulari, Inspector General of Police (Kolhapur division). The Opposition has slammed the Maharashtra government accusing it of shielding the police officers.The Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) stated that in this case the protector has become the predator.The Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said, “The duty of the police is to protect, but if they themselves are exploiting a female doctor, how will justice be served? Why was no action taken when this girl had previously lodged a complaint? The Mahayuti government repeatedly shields the police, which is leading to an increase in police atrocities.” He further stated, “Merely ordering an enquiry in this case is not enough. The police officers allegedly responsible for the woman doctor taking such an extreme step should be sacked from their jobs, otherwise, they could influence the investigation. Why was her earlier complaint not taken seriously? Those who ignored it and those who shielded these police officers should face action. Until action is taken against the police, police atrocities will not be curbed.” Former Leader of Opposition in the state council and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve slammed the state government while condemning the incident.“The accused in the Phaltan suicide case flee, and then the Chief Minister orders “strict” action. The suicide of a daughter from Marathwada who has been struggling since birth to move forward is indicative of the protector becoming the predator. A woman who has taken a vow of public service has to endure such mental harassment and meets such an unfortunate end. Our demand is that the government should form an independent enquiry committee consisting of officers from outside Satara district to conduct a thorough investigation into this,” he said.
Under Nitish Kumar, NDA will break all electoral records in Bihar: PM at Samastipur rally
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the “NDA under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar” will break all previous electoral records in the Bihar Assembly polls, while taking a swipe at the opposition INDIA bloc, which he said was led by “people out on bail”. Addressing his maiden election rally in the poll-bound state, the PM asked the crowds to switch on the lights of their mobile phones, and in a dig at the RJD, said, “When all people have access to such modern gadgets, there is no need for the lantern”. Showering praise on Nitish Kumar, who heads the JD(U) and seeks a fifth consecutive term in office, Modi alleged, “He came to power in 2005, but nearly a decade of his tenure was hampered by a hostile Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, which was constantly blackmailed by the RJD that it would withdraw support if cooperation was extended to the NDA government in Bihar.” The PM added, “The central assistance extended to Bihar in the last 11 years is three times what the state had received from the previous government. The state has turned the corner. It is now exporting fish, a far cry from the days when it was dependent on other states for its own needs. Makhana, which is a famous produce of Bihar, has access to markets far and wide”. “Bihar is now an attractive investment destination. I foresee a future in which every district will be teeming with startups of local youths”, the PM added. “All this would not have been possible had there been ‘jungle raj’ in Bihar. Don’t you remember that a former PM had said that of every rupee spent by the government, only 15 paise reached people. The money used to be devoured by a blood-stained hand (khooni panja)”, said Modi, in an obvious reference to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the poll symbol of Congress, the RJD’s alliance partner. “Bihar will keep the ‘jungle raj’ at bay and vote for good governance. ‘Nayee raftar se chalega Bihar, phir jab aayegi NDA sarkar’ (Bihar’s growth will speed up once NDA returns to power). RJD and Congress indulged in scams, their leaders are out on bail, and now they are trying to steal the ‘Jannayak’ title of Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur,” Modi said. “Bihar is the land of a genius like Aryabhatta. Its people cannot repose their trust in the RJD-Congress combine, which had destroyed the rule of law. Kidnapping and extortion had flourished like a business. The worst sufferers of ‘jungle raj’ were our mothers and sisters and those from the weaker sections”, alleged Modi. “Also, under the RJD rule, a dozen-and-a-half districts of Bihar were infested with Maoist insurgency. Hundreds of people were murdered, and people were afraid of stepping out of their homes. When I came to power in 2014, I pledged to bring Maoism to an end. With utmost humility and satisfaction, I can say that we have broken the spine of Maoism. Soon, the country will be free of the menace. This is Modi’s guarantee”, the PM said. Modi also said, “In the last assembly polls in Gujarat, where the party has been in power for 30 years, all previous records were broken. Similar was the case in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Haryana. I am confident that in Bihar, too, under Nitish Kumar, the NDA will break all previous records,” he said. In an apparent dig at INDIA bloc chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav, who, along with father Lalu Prasad, the RJD president, is named in the land for jobs scam, the PM said, “The people of Bihar cannot repose their trust in people who are out on bail (zamaanat par chhute hue log)”.
“We will make Bihar free from crime and corruption”: RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav slams NDA govt
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav slammed the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government on Friday, claiming that crime and corruption have increased in Bihar. While pledging to rid Bihar of corruption and crime if he were elected, the RJD leader also claimed that the top five states in the nation that are ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have the highest rates of crime. The decision to appoint Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) as chief Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav slammed the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government on Friday, claiming that crime and corruption have increased in Bihar. While pledging to rid Bihar of corruption and crime if he were elected, the RJD leader also claimed that the top five states in the nation that are ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have the highest rates of crime. Speaking to reporters in Patna, Yadav said, “We don’t make broken, fragmented or false promises. We will do what we say… If Tejashwi Yadav becomes the Chief Minister, the people of Bihar will also become the Chief Minister. We will make Bihar free from crime and corruption…” The RJD leader asserted that when scams are happening across the state and no action has been taken, that is called “jungle raj”. “The Prime Minister himself listed 55 scams of Nitish Kumar. What action has been taken? When scams are happening and no action is being taken, that is jungle raj. There is not a single day in Bihar where there are no shootings, murders, looting, rapes, kidnappings…Uttar Pradesh has the highest crime rate in the entire country. Bihar is second. The top five BJP-ruled states in the entire country have the highest crime rate,” Yadav told reporters. The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Bihar Assembly also accused the ruling government of misusing the Central agencies for their own benefit. “What are they doing there?… They only want to misuse the agencies. They will set up factories in Gujarat and want victory in Bihar; this is not going to happen,” the RJD leader said. Meanwhile, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Friday accused the Mahagathbandhan of focusing only on vote-bank politics, alleging that its leaders talk about Muslims but fail to give them proper representation and are driven by “personal ambitions” rather than public welfare.minister and deputy chief minister, respectively, was also criticised by the LJP (RV) chief. “They only want to retain their vote bank. They talk about Muslims, but when it comes to giving them representation, they give them nothing…Mukesh Sahani has been announced as the Deputy CM face, but he does not care about giving representation to people from his community… The people who have not gone out for campaigning, how will they work for Biharis? In the Mahagathbandhan, the battle is just for their personal ambitions…” Paswan said. Paswan later asserted that Muslims should understand the schemes provided by the NDA government, which are aimed at delivering benefits to all. “This is the same RJD to whom my father in 2005 said that they should make a muslim the Chief Minister. Why didn’t they make a muslim the CM?… They say something else and do something else. For them, Muslims are just their vote bank. Muslims should understand this and the schemes provided by our government are aimed at providing benefits to all,” the LJP (RV) leader added. Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Mahagathbandhan cleared the air regarding its lead face in the alliance, with the declaration of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar Leader of Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav as the Chief Ministerial face.
This is not a ‘gathbandhan’ but a ‘thugbandhan’: Union Minister Giriraj Singh
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday called Mahagathbandhan “thugbandhan”, hours after the opposition alliance announced RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the Chief Ministerial face for the Bihar assembly polls to be held on November 6 and November 11.”This is not astonishing anymore. Lalu Yadav has very adamantly announced his son as the CM candidate. This is not a ‘gathbandhan’ but a ‘thugbandhan’… Nitish Kumar is the NDA’s CM face,” Singh said.This announcement was made at a joint press conference of the Mahagathbandhan, where senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot stated that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav will be the Chief Ministerial candidate for the assembly poll.”He is a young person. He has a long future and the public will support him,” Gehlot said.Gehlot said that people of Bihar want change as they struggle with multiple issues, including unemployment. He alleged that the way the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the Centre is operating is a “threat to democracy”.”It is obvious to get worried about the condition of the country and the state. The situation is serious. The way the NDA government operates is a threat to democracy. There is polarisation. Nobody knows in which direction the country is heading. If you criticise, you are sent to jail – it doesn’t matter if you are a journalist or activist. It is our responsibility to keep in mind what the country wants. The country is watching Bihar. The issue of unemployment remains. People want change,” he said.The 2025 Bihar elections will have the main contest between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Mahagathbandhan.The results will be declared on November 14.
If a “face” is visible, no need other faces: CPI (ML) GS Dipankar Bhattacharya on Tejashwi Yadav as CM face
CPI (ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya on Thursday responded to questions about Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav being Mahagathbandhan’s Chief Minister face for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, saying that if a “face” is visible, there was no need to speculate on other possible faces.”You are asking who our CM face is? You can see one face there. Why do you want to see five faces on it?” Bhattacharya told ANI.Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said that it was the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that hadn’t even held a press conference on the CM face yet. “It is better if the BJP doesn’t say anything. NDA has not yet held a press conference. Prashant Kishor says that Amit Shah came to suppress and scare his candidates and that Nitish Kumar’s time as CM is up,” Bhattacharya said.s the election dates come closer, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav is likely to be announced as the Chief Ministerial candidate by the opposition Mahagathbandhan today.The declaration of Tejashwi as Mahagathbandhan’s CM face is expected to be made during a joint press conference by alliance parties. Tejashwi, the Bihar Leader of Opposition (LoP), has previously served as Deputy Chief Minister.This comes a day after the Congress high command rushed senior party leader Ashok Gehlot to Patna to defuse tensions within the grand alliance.Gehlot met RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav at their residence in Patna amid reports of a widening rift between alliance partners, stemming from the issue of a “friendly fight” on some assembly seats.Gehlot, who has been named as Senior Election Observer by the AICC, assured that the INDIA bloc is “fully united” after he and the Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru met with RJD’s top leadership.Further speaking about the friendly fights on some seats in the alliance, Gehlot assured that it is not something out of the ordinary and Mahagathbandhan has “no problem” at all.”In 243 seats, due to local leaders and equations, a situation like a friendly fight sometimes arises on 5-7 seats. This is a very small number, but a campaign was run against the Mahagathbandhan in the media over it, whereas in reality, there is no problem at all,” he said.The Mahagathbandhan has about 12 seats where at least two allies have filed nominations. However, this notion of a friendly fight has invited criticism from the NDA alliance, which has had no fissures after its seat-sharing arrangements were announced.The 2025 Bihar elections will have the main contest between the National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan.NDA includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.Mahagathbandhan, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal, includes Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).Additionally, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj has also staked claims on all 243 seats of the state.The assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11. The results will be declared on November 14.
China Consul General Highlights Strengthening India-China Relations, Trade Growth
China and India are witnessing renewed momentum in bilateral relations as trade, investment, and cultural exchanges deepen, said Xu Wei, Consul General of China in Kolkata, during an address titled “China’s Development and China-India Cooperation.” Xu highlighted that both countries, as major emerging economies, have maintained a robust trade partnership with volumes surpassing USD 100 billion for several consecutive years. From January to September this year, bilateral trade reached USD 115.2 billion, up 10.9 percent year-on-year. “The Chinese Embassy and Consulates in India have issued over 280,000 visas to Indian citizens this year,” Xu said. “Our Consulate in Kolkata alone issued 12,717 visas, already exceeding last year’s total. Most of these are business visas, showing strong commercial interest.” He also noted that India has reopened tourist visas for Chinese citizens, while direct flights between the two countries are set to resume after five years. “This Sunday, IndiGo will launch a Kolkata–Guangzhou route. In November, Shanghai–New Delhi and Guangzhou–New Delhi flights will also restart, making travel more convenient and cost-effective,” Xu added. The consul general shared his impressions after visiting Shanghai and Suzhou, describing Shanghai as “a window into China’s modernization” and a leader in international trade, finance, and technology. Shanghai’s GDP crossed 5.39 trillion yuan (USD 757 billion) in 2024 — larger than that of several developed nations. Suzhou, he said, has become a global manufacturing powerhouse with growing trade ties with India, reaching USD 10.16 billion last year. Xu also reviewed China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), emphasizing the nation’s steady economic growth and green development goals. “China’s GDP expanded from 110 trillion to over 134 trillion yuan during this period, growing by an average of 5.5 percent annually despite global challenges,” he said. Renewable energy now accounts for nearly 60 percent of China’s power capacity, and more than half of the world’s new energy vehicles are produced in China. China remains the world’s second-largest economy, with a GDP worth about USD 18.9 trillion — around 17 percent of the global total — contributing roughly 30 percent of global growth. Xu stressed that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China. “President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed that our two countries are partners, not rivals, and opportunities, not threats,” he said. Expressing optimism, Xu added, “With the guidance of our leaders and the efforts of our people, I believe China-India relations will continue to improve, bringing tangible benefits to both nations and contributing to peace and prosperity in Asia and beyond.”
