August 6, 2026

ABVP announcement on movement against alleged exam irregularities The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Thursday said it will continue its nationwide movement against irregularities in competitive examinations, paper leaks and recruitment processes, asserting that students deserve a transparent, fair and accountable examination system.In a statement, the youth organisation affiliated to the RSS said it has been raising issues related to examination reforms and recruitment irregularities through “democratic protests” in Punjab, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Bihar.According to the organisation, the demand for institutional reforms and greater accountability of examination agencies has become imperative in view of recurring instances of paper leaks and alleged irregularities, the statement said.Referring to a recent protest in Punjab, the ABVP alleged that police resorted to lathi-charge and water cannons against peaceful demonstrators during its Assembly gherao over examination and recruitment issues.It claimed that several activists sustained serious injuries, including fractures and ruptured eardrums.The organisation termed the police action “unfortunate and condemnable” and alleged that it reflected the Punjab Government’s administrative insensitivity.ABVP said that in Karnataka, it has sought a CBI inquiry into the KPSC recruitment controversy, a fair investigation into recruitment-related irregularities and early appointments to vacant teaching posts.In Bihar, it has demanded a high-level and time-bound probe into the alleged question paper leak in the Patna University Law Entrance Examination-2026.In Jharkhand, the organisation has sought strict action against those responsible for alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations and comprehensive reforms in the examination and recruitment system.The organisation said it is also pursuing student-related issues in several other states.In Telangana, it has demanded the release of pending fee reimbursement and scholarship dues, while in Himachal Pradesh it is protesting against the recent fee hike at Himachal Pradesh University.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIn Madhya Pradesh, ABVP has opposed the proposed Madhya Pradesh Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, alleging that some of its provisions could encourage the commercialisation of higher education and dilute academic standards.ABVP National General Secretary Dr Virendra Singh Solanki said the issues being raised in different states concern the future of millions of students across the country.”Paper leaks, recruitment irregularities, lack of transparency in examinations and inadequate institutional accountability have seriously affected students’ confidence. Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue on these issues, several governments have responded with suppression of peaceful democratic protests,” he said.”ABVP strongly condemns police action against its activists in various states and reiterates that it will continue its democratic struggle for a transparent, credible and student-centric examination system,” he added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBombay HC Convicts Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal In 2013 Sexual Assault Case; Reverses 2021 AcquittalThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe123PhotostoriesInside Nagma Mirajkar’s dreamy Mumbai home: A massive living room, a balcony with stunning views and more10 money habits you should learn in your 20s to build long-term wealth15000-year-old bones and teeth reveal what humans ate before agricultureFrom tiger cubs to penguin chicks: 7 incredible places to witness baby animals in the wildSuriya says the secret to his 20-year marriage with Jyotika is surprisingly simple: ‘Keep loving every day’Why Indians eat pickle with every meal: Is there actually a reason?Is 10,000 steps really necessary? Doctor explains whether 6,000 steps are enough for a healthy heart and what science actually says10 iconic animals in India protected under the highest wildlife laws‘Bigg Boss OTT 2’ contestant Jiya Shankar says ‘yes’ in style: Decoding her butter-yellow engagement dress and dazzling diamond ring5 unusual dining etiquette rules from around the world that surprise most travellers123Hot PicksSaurav DasDelhi rainAbhijeet DipkeRRB ALP CBT 2 answer keyTN Agriculture BudgetTASMAC OnlineAnkur WarikooUPI transactionsGold rate todayTop TrendingAkhilesh YadavNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeTasmac Liquor Online PurchaseJPSC ProtestNagpur Rape CaseDelhi Wife MurderAkhilesh YadavTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

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ABVP announcement on movement against alleged exam irregularities The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Thursday said it will continue its nationwide movement against irregularities in competitive examinations, paper leaks and recruitment processes, asserting that students deserve a transparent, fair and accountable examination system.In a statement, the youth organisation affiliated to the RSS said it has been raising issues related to examination reforms and recruitment irregularities through “democratic protests” in Punjab, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Bihar.According to the organisation, the demand for institutional reforms and greater accountability of examination agencies has become imperative in view of recurring instances of paper leaks and alleged irregularities, the statement said.Referring to a recent protest in Punjab, the ABVP alleged that police resorted to lathi-charge and water cannons against peaceful demonstrators during its Assembly gherao over examination and recruitment issues.It claimed that several activists sustained serious injuries, including fractures and ruptured eardrums.The organisation termed the police action “unfortunate and condemnable” and alleged that it reflected the Punjab Government’s administrative insensitivity.ABVP said that in Karnataka, it has sought a CBI inquiry into the KPSC recruitment controversy, a fair investigation into recruitment-related irregularities and early appointments to vacant teaching posts.In Bihar, it has demanded a high-level and time-bound probe into the alleged question paper leak in the Patna University Law Entrance Examination-2026.In Jharkhand, the organisation has sought strict action against those responsible for alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations and comprehensive reforms in the examination and recruitment system.The organisation said it is also pursuing student-related issues in several other states.In Telangana, it has demanded the release of pending fee reimbursement and scholarship dues, while in Himachal Pradesh it is protesting against the recent fee hike at Himachal Pradesh University.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIn Madhya Pradesh, ABVP has opposed the proposed Madhya Pradesh Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, alleging that some of its provisions could encourage the commercialisation of higher education and dilute academic standards.ABVP National General Secretary Dr Virendra Singh Solanki said the issues being raised in different states concern the future of millions of students across the country.”Paper leaks, recruitment irregularities, lack of transparency in examinations and inadequate institutional accountability have seriously affected students’ confidence. Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue on these issues, several governments have responded with suppression of peaceful democratic protests,” he said.”ABVP strongly condemns police action against its activists in various states and reiterates that it will continue its democratic struggle for a transparent, credible and student-centric examination system,” he added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBombay HC Convicts Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal In 2013 Sexual Assault Case; Reverses 2021 AcquittalThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe123PhotostoriesInside Nagma Mirajkar’s dreamy Mumbai home: A massive living room, a balcony with stunning views and more10 money habits you should learn in your 20s to build long-term wealth15000-year-old bones and teeth reveal what humans ate before agricultureFrom tiger cubs to penguin chicks: 7 incredible places to witness baby animals in the wildSuriya says the secret to his 20-year marriage with Jyotika is surprisingly simple: ‘Keep loving every day’Why Indians eat pickle with every meal: Is there actually a reason?Is 10,000 steps really necessary? Doctor explains whether 6,000 steps are enough for a healthy heart and what science actually says10 iconic animals in India protected under the highest wildlife laws‘Bigg Boss OTT 2’ contestant Jiya Shankar says ‘yes’ in style: Decoding her butter-yellow engagement dress and dazzling diamond ring5 unusual dining etiquette rules from around the world that surprise most travellers123Hot PicksSaurav DasDelhi rainAbhijeet DipkeRRB ALP CBT 2 answer keyTN Agriculture BudgetTASMAC OnlineAnkur WarikooUPI transactionsGold rate todayTop TrendingAkhilesh YadavNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeTasmac Liquor Online PurchaseJPSC ProtestNagpur Rape CaseDelhi Wife MurderAkhilesh YadavTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case


ABVP to continue 'democratic protests' against exam, recruitment irregularities
ABVP announcement on movement against alleged exam irregularities

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Thursday said it will continue its nationwide movement against irregularities in competitive examinations, paper leaks and recruitment processes, asserting that students deserve a transparent, fair and accountable examination system.In a statement, the youth organisation affiliated to the RSS said it has been raising issues related to examination reforms and recruitment irregularities through “democratic protests” in Punjab, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Bihar.According to the organisation, the demand for institutional reforms and greater accountability of examination agencies has become imperative in view of recurring instances of paper leaks and alleged irregularities, the statement said.Referring to a recent protest in Punjab, the ABVP alleged that police resorted to lathi-charge and water cannons against peaceful demonstrators during its Assembly gherao over examination and recruitment issues.It claimed that several activists sustained serious injuries, including fractures and ruptured eardrums.The organisation termed the police action “unfortunate and condemnable” and alleged that it reflected the Punjab Government’s administrative insensitivity.ABVP said that in Karnataka, it has sought a CBI inquiry into the KPSC recruitment controversy, a fair investigation into recruitment-related irregularities and early appointments to vacant teaching posts.In Bihar, it has demanded a high-level and time-bound probe into the alleged question paper leak in the Patna University Law Entrance Examination-2026.In Jharkhand, the organisation has sought strict action against those responsible for alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations and comprehensive reforms in the examination and recruitment system.The organisation said it is also pursuing student-related issues in several other states.In Telangana, it has demanded the release of pending fee reimbursement and scholarship dues, while in Himachal Pradesh it is protesting against the recent fee hike at Himachal Pradesh University.

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10 Indian sailors have been killed in the Middle East while hundreds are still sailing the dangerous waters For thousands of Indian merchant seafarers, the Middle East war has transformed the sea from a workplace into a battlefield.They are not soldiers. They are civilians who keep global trade moving, transporting oil, fuel and essential cargo through some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea. But since the US-Israel war with Iran erupted on February 28, many have found themselves navigating through missile strikes, drone attacks and naval hostilities.Some never made it home. Indian sailors have been killed in attacks on commercial vessels. Others have been injured or stranded at sea for weeks, unable to escape the conflict. Back home, anxious families spend their days glued to news bulletins, fearing every report of another ship being struck and praying for a phone call confirming their loved ones are still alive.The scale of the crisis is stark.The ministry of external affairs (MEA) recently said 166 Indian seafarers remained in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz region, with 125 aboard six Indian-flagged vessels and another 41 serving on foreign ships. In an update on August 4, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said 3,972 Indian seafarers had been repatriated from the Gulf region, underscoring the massive effort to bring them out of one of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. Watch Caught In The Crossfire: How 10 Indian sailors Became Victims in Someone else’s warNumbers tell the storyIndia is the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers after the Philippines, with 311,936 personnel accounting for 12.16 per cent of the global maritime workforce, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026.Indian officers make up 13.41 per cent of the world’s officer workforce, while the country also supplies 171,218 ratings, representing 11.29 per cent of the global ratings workforce.That vast presence at sea has come at a heavy cost since the Iran war erupted.Last month, the MEA said Indian seafarers had suffered the highest number of fatalities of any nationality in attacks on commercial shipping. Later, the government informed Parliament that 10 Indian seafarers were among the 16 Indian nationals killed in the Middle East conflict.However, the human cost extends far beyond those killed in missile and drone attacks.Hundreds of Indian sailors stranded in conflict-hit waters have faced prolonged deployments, delayed crew changes, disrupted medical evacuations, supply shortages and worsening onboard conditions, exposing them to mounting physical and mental risks.One such tragedy unfolded in June when 35-year-old Second Officer Nishanth Uirthanathan died from medical complications aboard the MT Celestial near Oman after falling seriously ill.An officer died as he got sick on vessel off Oman CoastThe Indian Embassy coordinated the repatriation of his remains, while the Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India (FSUI) alleged that critical medical assistance was delayed because the vessel was operating in a conflict zone. Following his death, crew members reportedly had to preserve his body using bottles of cold water as the ship lacked adequate refrigeration facilities.The silent toll on IndiaThe human cost for India was almost immediate.The cost of war that India has paid Within 24 hours of the Iran war erupting, Indian seafarers had begun paying the price.On March 1. Captain Ashish Kumar and crew member Dalip (Daleep) Singh were killed when the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight was attacked near Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. Hours later, another Indian seafarer lost his life after the Marshall Islands-flagged gasoline tanker MKD Vyom was struck off the Omani coast.The attacks continued over the following months.On March 11, 54-year-old Deonandan Prasad Singh was killed when the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu came under fire near Basra, Iraq.On May 8, Indian seafarer Altaf Talab Ker died and four others were injured after the Indian-flagged dhow Al Faize Noor Suleimani was caught in crossfire in the Strait of Hormuz.The single deadliest attack came on June 10, when the Palau-flagged Settebello was struck by US forces in the Gulf of Oman, killing Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh, Deck Cadet Aditya Sharma and Fitter Shivanand Chaurashiya.The toll continued to climb in July.Marine engineer Herambh Karmarkar was killed on July 12 after the Cyprus-flagged GFS Galaxy was hit shortly after transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Ten of the vessel’s 11 Indian crew members were rescued.Two days later, Indian seafarer Rohan Kumar was killed when the Liberia-flagged Mombasa B was struck by Iranian missiles alongside Al Bahyah in Omani waters.Together, the two vessels carried 30 Indian seafarers.Other India-linked vessels also came under attack but avoided fatalities. The cargo ship Haji Ali was hit on May 13, while Marivex and Jalveer were attacked in June, with all Indian crew members rescued.The violence has shown little sign of easing.On August 4, the Indian-flagged MSV Faize Noore Oliya was hit near Yemen and sank. All 13 Indian crew members survived, narrowly escaping what could have been another deadly addition to India’s mounting toll.‘Seafarers are not warriors’For merchant seafarers, the risks are fundamentally different: commercial vessels can become targets, crews can be stranded for days and even routine medical emergencies can become life-threatening when ports and evacuation routes are disrupted.That has put a new question at the centre: who protects the people onboard?Recently, the sinking of the Indian-flagged MSV Faize Noore Oliya on 4 August has intensified calls for stronger protection of merchant crews. The Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India (FSUI), one of the key seafarer bodies advocating for their safety, has asked PM Modi to deploy Navy assets to protect Indian-flagged ships and Indian crews across the Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Black Sea.The Navy already operates Urja Suraksha, an escort mission for energy shipments through the Strait. FSUI wants such protection extended to commercial vessels and says it had warned the government about the risks in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait roughly a month before the Faize Noore Oliya attack.Raising concerns on safety, FSUI general secretary Manoj Yadav told TOI. “Today’s escalation of war, which has reached the sea from land, targets commercial vessels from either side — the US and Iran,” adding that crews, including large numbers of Indians, are being caught in a conflict they had no role in.Yadav argued that military or naval forces can stop a commercial vessel without harming its crew; by boarding or detaining it, for instance instead of targeting sensitive areas such as engine rooms and accommodation blocks.“Seafarers are not warriors. They work to serve the nation and the global supply chain,” Yadav reiterated.FSUI’s concerns extend beyond attacks. It says thousands of seafarers remain at risk in the Persian Gulf and Black Sea, while war-risk insurance gaps can leave families without compensation. The union has called for a government-backed insurance mechanism, million for each deceased seafarer’s family and employment support for next of kin.FSUI has also urged the government to seek a UN-backed independent inquiry into the deaths of seafarers in conflict zones and establish accountability.“Seafarers are the heartbeat of the ocean,” Yadav said. FSUI has called on seafarers both aboard ships and ashore to observe September 25 as a Day of Global Maritime Mourning.Life on boardFor the people actually on ships, the war is not a headline, it’s a watch schedule.Deepak Kumar, a Third Officer in the Merchant Navy, said shipping companies now run detailed risk assessments and add security measures before entering high-risk waters, and depending on the threat level, some deploy armed guards while naval forces patrol the surrounding sea.But no amount of planning removes the strain.”No seafarer wants to sail through a high-risk maritime zone,” as every transit means disturbed sleep, patchy contact with home, and having to “put your emotions aside” and keep the ship running regardless.Kumar added that the hardest part often isn’t the danger itself but the silence around it: families hearing of an attack near their loved one’s trading route and waiting for a message confirming they’re safe.While world powers engage in military blockades and political posturing, the people suffering the real humanitarian crisis are the innocent seafarers trapped onboard.Deepak Kumar, third officer in merchant navyRitik Raina, another Third Officer, explained why the Hormuz transit is uniquely brutal.There is a distinction between a High Risk Area, where seafarers face threats such as piracy and armed attacks, and a Warlike Operations Area, where they are exposed directly to an ongoing military conflict. The latter carries far greater implications for crews, including enhanced compensation and, under international maritime labour agreements, the right to refuse to enter the area, he explained.The Strait of Hormuz was initially designated a High Risk Area on March 2, before being upgraded to a Warlike Operations Area three days later.For crews already inside the Gulf, however, the geography makes that distinction consequential.The Gulf is enclosed on three sides, with the Strait of Hormuz as its only maritime exit.“Once a ship is inside the Gulf, it simply cannot leave until the blockade lifts, leaving crews to ration food, watch fresh water systems run down, and lose internet access as onboard connectivity, decided by shipowners, thins out or disappears,” said Raina.Contracts do carry war-zone bonuses, he further explained, and sailors can refuse to sail into a designated danger area before a vessel enters it.Meanwhile, former chief engineer and managing director at Barrow & Trent Shipping India Amit Khareta said geopolitical risk is increasingly becoming a reality the shipping industry has to plan around. Larger companies can sometimes divert via the Cape of Good Hope, but the added cost is not always practical for smaller owners, who may continue using high-risk routes after risk assessments and taking additional war-risk insurance.For seafarers, the choice is complicated.Khareta said many crews he has spoken to are willing to sail.Higher war-risk bonuses and additional compensation also influence that decision, with some owners offering several times the normal salary for such voyages.While Khareta himself has chosen not to sail through the current danger zone because of family obligations, he said he understands why experienced seafarers do it. But the decision, he stressed, must remain voluntary; “every seafarer should have the right to decline sailing through a high-risk area without fear of damaging their career.”Every seafarer should have the right to decline sailing through a high risk area without fear of damaging their career.Amit Khareta, MD at Barrow & Trent Shipping IndiaThe bigger burden, he said, is often psychological. Families worry constantly, seafarers face enormous pressure themselves while longer routes, disrupted schedules and fatigue add to the strain, but the uncertainty of not knowing what may happen once a ship enters a conflict zone weighs most heavily. “Merchant seafarers are civilians,” Khareta said. “They are not part of the conflict, yet they are exposed to its consequences simply because global trade depends on them.”Protecting sailorsBeyond the decisions made by individual seafarers and shipping companies, the crisis has also put the spotlight on the systems meant to protect shipping in conflict zones.International maritime law already provides several layers of protection.The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 sets minimum standards for seafarers’ working and living conditions, including wages, medical care, repatriation and welfare. SOLAS lays down safety requirements for ships, while the ISPS Code deals specifically with ship and port security, requiring vessels to assess security risks and maintain plans and procedures to respond to them. But these rules were not designed to make merchant ships immune to an active war.In this context, Vidhu Shekhar, associate professor at SPJIMR, brought an economic lens to the problem, particularly on how maritime risk is distributed between shipowners, insurers and crews.“Routing decisions are made principally by owners and charterers, while the physical risk is borne by crews who have little influence over those decisions,” Shekhar said. He said sharper protections such as hazard pay and refusal rights have therefore often come through collective agreements, leaving some seafarers facing the same danger without equivalent protection. “Risk is therefore priced by contractual coverage rather than consistently by the hazard itself,” he added.For Indian sailors, Shekhar said the exposure is particularly unusual because most Indians serving internationally work aboard foreign-flagged vessels, making protection dependent on coordination between India, flag states, shipowners and insurers.India has meanwhile strengthened its own safety net. The government’s ‘Seafarer-First’ framework includes real-time tracking of vessels and Indian crews, a 24-hour control room, coordination with the Indian Navy and voyage-specific risk assessments.Government advisories have also directed shipping companies and licensed Recruitment and Placement Services (RPSL) agencies to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on voyages through the Strait of Hormuz during periods of heightened risk.Meanwhile, for Upasha Kumari, a researcher on India’s SAGAR doctrine, the bigger problem is that the human cost remains secondary to discussions around shipping.“We often discuss oil prices and shipping routes, but rarely the people operating those ships,” she said. “Indian seafarers are on the frontlines of these crises.” As commercial routes increasingly overlap with conflict zones, she argued that protecting civilian crews must become a central part of maritime security and not an afterthought.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesCost of trade For India, the challenge is not only keeping its seafarers out of danger, but ensuring that those who keep global trade moving are not left to bear the cost of conflicts they did not choose.They are civilians, working far from home, often on vessels whose routes and risks they do not control.As the war pushes commercial shipping deeper into contested waters, the question is no longer simply how to keep the cargo moving. It is how to make sure the people carrying it can make it home.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTrisha MahajanTrisha Mahajan is a journalist with The Times of India digital, with keen interest in covering business and corporate affairs. She also reports on key national and world developments and global news trends. A keen reader with a strong interest in storytelling that adds context, clarity, and depth to complex issues.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBombay HC Convicts Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal In 2013 Sexual Assault Case; Reverses 2021 AcquittalThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe123Photostories5 subtle signs the universe is preparing you for a new beginningInside Nagma Mirajkar’s dreamy Mumbai home: A massive living room, a balcony with stunning views and more10 money habits you should learn in your 20s to build long-term wealth15000-year-old bones and teeth reveal what humans ate before agricultureFrom tiger cubs to penguin chicks: 7 incredible places to witness baby animals in the wildSuriya says the secret to his 20-year marriage with Jyotika is surprisingly simple: ‘Keep loving every day’Why Indians eat pickle with every meal: Is there actually a reason?Is 10,000 steps really necessary? Doctor explains whether 6,000 steps are enough for a healthy heart and what science actually says10 iconic animals in India protected under the highest wildlife laws‘Bigg Boss OTT 2’ contestant Jiya Shankar says ‘yes’ in style: Decoding her butter-yellow engagement dress and dazzling diamond ring123Hot PicksSaurav DasDelhi rainAbhijeet DipkeRRB ALP CBT 2 answer keyTN Agriculture BudgetTASMAC OnlineAnkur WarikooUPI transactionsGold rate todayTop TrendingAkhilesh YadavNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeTasmac Liquor Online PurchaseJPSC ProtestNagpur Rape CaseDelhi Wife MurderAkhilesh YadavTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

10 Indian sailors have been killed in the Middle East while hundreds are still sailing the dangerous waters For thousands of Indian merchant seafarers, the Middle East war has transformed the sea from a workplace into a battlefield.They are not soldiers. They are civilians who keep global trade moving, transporting oil, fuel and essential cargo through some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea. But since the US-Israel war with Iran erupted on February 28, many have found themselves navigating through missile strikes, drone attacks and naval hostilities.Some never made it home. Indian sailors have been killed in attacks on commercial vessels. Others have been injured or stranded at sea for weeks, unable to escape the conflict. Back home, anxious families spend their days glued to news bulletins, fearing every report of another ship being struck and praying for a phone call confirming their loved ones are still alive.The scale of the crisis is stark.The ministry of external affairs (MEA) recently said 166 Indian seafarers remained in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz region, with 125 aboard six Indian-flagged vessels and another 41 serving on foreign ships. In an update on August 4, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said 3,972 Indian seafarers had been repatriated from the Gulf region, underscoring the massive effort to bring them out of one of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. Watch Caught In The Crossfire: How 10 Indian sailors Became Victims in Someone else’s warNumbers tell the storyIndia is the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers after the Philippines, with 311,936 personnel accounting for 12.16 per cent of the global maritime workforce, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026.Indian officers make up 13.41 per cent of the world’s officer workforce, while the country also supplies 171,218 ratings, representing 11.29 per cent of the global ratings workforce.That vast presence at sea has come at a heavy cost since the Iran war erupted.Last month, the MEA said Indian seafarers had suffered the highest number of fatalities of any nationality in attacks on commercial shipping. Later, the government informed Parliament that 10 Indian seafarers were among the 16 Indian nationals killed in the Middle East conflict.However, the human cost extends far beyond those killed in missile and drone attacks.Hundreds of Indian sailors stranded in conflict-hit waters have faced prolonged deployments, delayed crew changes, disrupted medical evacuations, supply shortages and worsening onboard conditions, exposing them to mounting physical and mental risks.One such tragedy unfolded in June when 35-year-old Second Officer Nishanth Uirthanathan died from medical complications aboard the MT Celestial near Oman after falling seriously ill.An officer died as he got sick on vessel off Oman CoastThe Indian Embassy coordinated the repatriation of his remains, while the Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India (FSUI) alleged that critical medical assistance was delayed because the vessel was operating in a conflict zone. Following his death, crew members reportedly had to preserve his body using bottles of cold water as the ship lacked adequate refrigeration facilities.The silent toll on IndiaThe human cost for India was almost immediate.The cost of war that India has paid Within 24 hours of the Iran war erupting, Indian seafarers had begun paying the price.On March 1. Captain Ashish Kumar and crew member Dalip (Daleep) Singh were killed when the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight was attacked near Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. Hours later, another Indian seafarer lost his life after the Marshall Islands-flagged gasoline tanker MKD Vyom was struck off the Omani coast.The attacks continued over the following months.On March 11, 54-year-old Deonandan Prasad Singh was killed when the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu came under fire near Basra, Iraq.On May 8, Indian seafarer Altaf Talab Ker died and four others were injured after the Indian-flagged dhow Al Faize Noor Suleimani was caught in crossfire in the Strait of Hormuz.The single deadliest attack came on June 10, when the Palau-flagged Settebello was struck by US forces in the Gulf of Oman, killing Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh, Deck Cadet Aditya Sharma and Fitter Shivanand Chaurashiya.The toll continued to climb in July.Marine engineer Herambh Karmarkar was killed on July 12 after the Cyprus-flagged GFS Galaxy was hit shortly after transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Ten of the vessel’s 11 Indian crew members were rescued.Two days later, Indian seafarer Rohan Kumar was killed when the Liberia-flagged Mombasa B was struck by Iranian missiles alongside Al Bahyah in Omani waters.Together, the two vessels carried 30 Indian seafarers.Other India-linked vessels also came under attack but avoided fatalities. The cargo ship Haji Ali was hit on May 13, while Marivex and Jalveer were attacked in June, with all Indian crew members rescued.The violence has shown little sign of easing.On August 4, the Indian-flagged MSV Faize Noore Oliya was hit near Yemen and sank. All 13 Indian crew members survived, narrowly escaping what could have been another deadly addition to India’s mounting toll.‘Seafarers are not warriors’For merchant seafarers, the risks are fundamentally different: commercial vessels can become targets, crews can be stranded for days and even routine medical emergencies can become life-threatening when ports and evacuation routes are disrupted.That has put a new question at the centre: who protects the people onboard?Recently, the sinking of the Indian-flagged MSV Faize Noore Oliya on 4 August has intensified calls for stronger protection of merchant crews. The Federation of Seafarers’ Unions of India (FSUI), one of the key seafarer bodies advocating for their safety, has asked PM Modi to deploy Navy assets to protect Indian-flagged ships and Indian crews across the Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Black Sea.The Navy already operates Urja Suraksha, an escort mission for energy shipments through the Strait. FSUI wants such protection extended to commercial vessels and says it had warned the government about the risks in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait roughly a month before the Faize Noore Oliya attack.Raising concerns on safety, FSUI general secretary Manoj Yadav told TOI. “Today’s escalation of war, which has reached the sea from land, targets commercial vessels from either side — the US and Iran,” adding that crews, including large numbers of Indians, are being caught in a conflict they had no role in.Yadav argued that military or naval forces can stop a commercial vessel without harming its crew; by boarding or detaining it, for instance instead of targeting sensitive areas such as engine rooms and accommodation blocks.“Seafarers are not warriors. They work to serve the nation and the global supply chain,” Yadav reiterated.FSUI’s concerns extend beyond attacks. It says thousands of seafarers remain at risk in the Persian Gulf and Black Sea, while war-risk insurance gaps can leave families without compensation. The union has called for a government-backed insurance mechanism, $5 million for each deceased seafarer’s family and employment support for next of kin.FSUI has also urged the government to seek a UN-backed independent inquiry into the deaths of seafarers in conflict zones and establish accountability.“Seafarers are the heartbeat of the ocean,” Yadav said. FSUI has called on seafarers both aboard ships and ashore to observe September 25 as a Day of Global Maritime Mourning.Life on boardFor the people actually on ships, the war is not a headline, it’s a watch schedule.Deepak Kumar, a Third Officer in the Merchant Navy, said shipping companies now run detailed risk assessments and add security measures before entering high-risk waters, and depending on the threat level, some deploy armed guards while naval forces patrol the surrounding sea.But no amount of planning removes the strain.”No seafarer wants to sail through a high-risk maritime zone,” as every transit means disturbed sleep, patchy contact with home, and having to “put your emotions aside” and keep the ship running regardless.Kumar added that the hardest part often isn’t the danger itself but the silence around it: families hearing of an attack near their loved one’s trading route and waiting for a message confirming they’re safe.While world powers engage in military blockades and political posturing, the people suffering the real humanitarian crisis are the innocent seafarers trapped onboard.Deepak Kumar, third officer in merchant navyRitik Raina, another Third Officer, explained why the Hormuz transit is uniquely brutal.There is a distinction between a High Risk Area, where seafarers face threats such as piracy and armed attacks, and a Warlike Operations Area, where they are exposed directly to an ongoing military conflict. The latter carries far greater implications for crews, including enhanced compensation and, under international maritime labour agreements, the right to refuse to enter the area, he explained.The Strait of Hormuz was initially designated a High Risk Area on March 2, before being upgraded to a Warlike Operations Area three days later.For crews already inside the Gulf, however, the geography makes that distinction consequential.The Gulf is enclosed on three sides, with the Strait of Hormuz as its only maritime exit.“Once a ship is inside the Gulf, it simply cannot leave until the blockade lifts, leaving crews to ration food, watch fresh water systems run down, and lose internet access as onboard connectivity, decided by shipowners, thins out or disappears,” said Raina.Contracts do carry war-zone bonuses, he further explained, and sailors can refuse to sail into a designated danger area before a vessel enters it.Meanwhile, former chief engineer and managing director at Barrow & Trent Shipping India Amit Khareta said geopolitical risk is increasingly becoming a reality the shipping industry has to plan around. Larger companies can sometimes divert via the Cape of Good Hope, but the added cost is not always practical for smaller owners, who may continue using high-risk routes after risk assessments and taking additional war-risk insurance.For seafarers, the choice is complicated.Khareta said many crews he has spoken to are willing to sail.Higher war-risk bonuses and additional compensation also influence that decision, with some owners offering several times the normal salary for such voyages.While Khareta himself has chosen not to sail through the current danger zone because of family obligations, he said he understands why experienced seafarers do it. But the decision, he stressed, must remain voluntary; “every seafarer should have the right to decline sailing through a high-risk area without fear of damaging their career.”Every seafarer should have the right to decline sailing through a high risk area without fear of damaging their career.Amit Khareta, MD at Barrow & Trent Shipping IndiaThe bigger burden, he said, is often psychological. Families worry constantly, seafarers face enormous pressure themselves while longer routes, disrupted schedules and fatigue add to the strain, but the uncertainty of not knowing what may happen once a ship enters a conflict zone weighs most heavily. “Merchant seafarers are civilians,” Khareta said. “They are not part of the conflict, yet they are exposed to its consequences simply because global trade depends on them.”Protecting sailorsBeyond the decisions made by individual seafarers and shipping companies, the crisis has also put the spotlight on the systems meant to protect shipping in conflict zones.International maritime law already provides several layers of protection.The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 sets minimum standards for seafarers’ working and living conditions, including wages, medical care, repatriation and welfare. SOLAS lays down safety requirements for ships, while the ISPS Code deals specifically with ship and port security, requiring vessels to assess security risks and maintain plans and procedures to respond to them. But these rules were not designed to make merchant ships immune to an active war.In this context, Vidhu Shekhar, associate professor at SPJIMR, brought an economic lens to the problem, particularly on how maritime risk is distributed between shipowners, insurers and crews.“Routing decisions are made principally by owners and charterers, while the physical risk is borne by crews who have little influence over those decisions,” Shekhar said. He said sharper protections such as hazard pay and refusal rights have therefore often come through collective agreements, leaving some seafarers facing the same danger without equivalent protection. “Risk is therefore priced by contractual coverage rather than consistently by the hazard itself,” he added.For Indian sailors, Shekhar said the exposure is particularly unusual because most Indians serving internationally work aboard foreign-flagged vessels, making protection dependent on coordination between India, flag states, shipowners and insurers.India has meanwhile strengthened its own safety net. The government’s ‘Seafarer-First’ framework includes real-time tracking of vessels and Indian crews, a 24-hour control room, coordination with the Indian Navy and voyage-specific risk assessments.Government advisories have also directed shipping companies and licensed Recruitment and Placement Services (RPSL) agencies to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on voyages through the Strait of Hormuz during periods of heightened risk.Meanwhile, for Upasha Kumari, a researcher on India’s SAGAR doctrine, the bigger problem is that the human cost remains secondary to discussions around shipping.“We often discuss oil prices and shipping routes, but rarely the people operating those ships,” she said. “Indian seafarers are on the frontlines of these crises.” As commercial routes increasingly overlap with conflict zones, she argued that protecting civilian crews must become a central part of maritime security and not an afterthought.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesCost of trade For India, the challenge is not only keeping its seafarers out of danger, but ensuring that those who keep global trade moving are not left to bear the cost of conflicts they did not choose.They are civilians, working far from home, often on vessels whose routes and risks they do not control.As the war pushes commercial shipping deeper into contested waters, the question is no longer simply how to keep the cargo moving. It is how to make sure the people carrying it can make it home.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTrisha MahajanTrisha Mahajan is a journalist with The Times of India digital, with keen interest in covering business and corporate affairs. She also reports on key national and world developments and global news trends. A keen reader with a strong interest in storytelling that adds context, clarity, and depth to complex issues.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBombay HC Convicts Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal In 2013 Sexual Assault Case; Reverses 2021 AcquittalThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe123Photostories5 subtle signs the universe is preparing you for a new beginningInside Nagma Mirajkar’s dreamy Mumbai home: A massive living room, a balcony with stunning views and more10 money habits you should learn in your 20s to build long-term wealth15000-year-old bones and teeth reveal what humans ate before agricultureFrom tiger cubs to penguin chicks: 7 incredible places to witness baby animals in the wildSuriya says the secret to his 20-year marriage with Jyotika is surprisingly simple: ‘Keep loving every day’Why Indians eat pickle with every meal: Is there actually a reason?Is 10,000 steps really necessary? 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Government says PM Modi’s overseas travel has crossed Rs 550 crore since 2021 (Image credit: PTI) NEW DELHI: The expenditure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits has increased fivefold since 2021, with the annual bill rising from over Rs 36 crore in 2021 to more than Rs 180 crore in 2025, ministry of external affairs informed Rajya Sabha on Thursday.In a written reply, minister of state for external affairs Pabitra Margherita said the cumulative expenditure on the prime minister’s overseas visits since 2021 has crossed Rs 550 crore.So far in 2026, expenditure has reached over Rs 74.58 crore, although some figures remain provisional and the cost of the France visit in June is yet to be finalised.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAmong the visits for which expenditure has been compiled this year, the Norway leg of the prime minister’s five-nation tour in May accounted for the highest cost at Rs 17.46 crore, Margherita said.According to the data shared by MEA, expenditure on PM Modi’s foreign visits stood at over Rs 36 crore in 2021, Rs 55 crore in 2022, Rs 93 crore in 2023, Rs 109 crore in 2024 and more than Rs 180 crore in 2025.Defending the expenditure, MEA said that 316 MoUs and agreements have been signed during the foreign visits since July 2021. These cover sectors including defence, digital technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, renewable energy, healthcare, education, agriculture, space cooperation, mobility and migration, climate action and cultural exchanges.The MEA further noted that India received 1.8 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) between April 2021 and December 2025.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAastha JhaAastha Jha is a writer at The Times of India, covering politics. She also writes on business, global affairs, social issues, with a focus on policy, governance and their impact on everyday lives. Her work brings together reportage and analysis, tracking developments in India and abroad while examining the broader social and economic currents shaping public discourse.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBombay HC Convicts Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal In 2013 Sexual Assault Case; Reverses 2021 AcquittalThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe123Photostories5 subtle signs the universe is preparing you for a new beginningInside Nagma Mirajkar’s dreamy Mumbai home: A massive living room, a balcony with stunning views and more10 money habits you should learn in your 20s to build long-term wealth15000-year-old bones and teeth reveal what humans ate before agricultureFrom tiger cubs to penguin chicks: 7 incredible places to witness baby animals in the wildSuriya says the secret to his 20-year marriage with Jyotika is surprisingly simple: ‘Keep loving every day’Why Indians eat pickle with every meal: Is there actually a reason?Is 10,000 steps really necessary? Doctor explains whether 6,000 steps are enough for a healthy heart and what science actually says10 iconic animals in India protected under the highest wildlife laws‘Bigg Boss OTT 2’ contestant Jiya Shankar says ‘yes’ in style: Decoding her butter-yellow engagement dress and dazzling diamond ring123Hot PicksSaurav DasDelhi rainAbhijeet DipkeRRB ALP CBT 2 answer keyTN Agriculture BudgetTASMAC OnlineAnkur WarikooUPI transactionsGold rate todayTop TrendingAkhilesh YadavNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeTasmac Liquor Online PurchaseJPSC ProtestNagpur Rape CaseDelhi Wife MurderAkhilesh YadavTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

Government says PM Modi’s overseas travel has crossed Rs 550 crore since 2021 (Image credit: PTI) NEW DELHI: The expenditure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits has increased fivefold since 2021, with the annual bill rising from over Rs 36 crore in 2021 to more than Rs 180 crore in 2025, ministry of external affairs informed Rajya Sabha on Thursday.In a written reply, minister of state for external affairs Pabitra Margherita said the cumulative expenditure on the prime minister’s overseas visits since 2021 has crossed Rs 550 crore.So far in 2026, expenditure has reached over Rs 74.58 crore, although some figures remain provisional and the cost of the France visit in June is yet to be finalised.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAmong the visits for which expenditure has been compiled this year, the Norway leg of the prime minister’s five-nation tour in May accounted for the highest cost at Rs 17.46 crore, Margherita said.According to the data shared by MEA, expenditure on PM Modi’s foreign visits stood at over Rs 36 crore in 2021, Rs 55 crore in 2022, Rs 93 crore in 2023, Rs 109 crore in 2024 and more than Rs 180 crore in 2025.Defending the expenditure, MEA said that 316 MoUs and agreements have been signed during the foreign visits since July 2021. These cover sectors including defence, digital technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, renewable energy, healthcare, education, agriculture, space cooperation, mobility and migration, climate action and cultural exchanges.The MEA further noted that India received $381.8 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) between April 2021 and December 2025.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAastha JhaAastha Jha is a writer at The Times of India, covering politics. She also writes on business, global affairs, social issues, with a focus on policy, governance and their impact on everyday lives. Her work brings together reportage and analysis, tracking developments in India and abroad while examining the broader social and economic currents shaping public discourse.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBombay HC Convicts Tehelka Founder Tarun Tejpal In 2013 Sexual Assault Case; Reverses 2021 AcquittalThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe123Photostories5 subtle signs the universe is preparing you for a new beginningInside Nagma Mirajkar’s dreamy Mumbai home: A massive living room, a balcony with stunning views and more10 money habits you should learn in your 20s to build long-term wealth15000-year-old bones and teeth reveal what humans ate before agricultureFrom tiger cubs to penguin chicks: 7 incredible places to witness baby animals in the wildSuriya says the secret to his 20-year marriage with Jyotika is surprisingly simple: ‘Keep loving every day’Why Indians eat pickle with every meal: Is there actually a reason?Is 10,000 steps really necessary? Doctor explains whether 6,000 steps are enough for a healthy heart and what science actually says10 iconic animals in India protected under the highest wildlife laws‘Bigg Boss OTT 2’ contestant Jiya Shankar says ‘yes’ in style: Decoding her butter-yellow engagement dress and dazzling diamond ring123Hot PicksSaurav DasDelhi rainAbhijeet DipkeRRB ALP CBT 2 answer keyTN Agriculture BudgetTASMAC OnlineAnkur WarikooUPI transactionsGold rate todayTop TrendingAkhilesh YadavNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeTasmac Liquor Online PurchaseJPSC ProtestNagpur Rape CaseDelhi Wife MurderAkhilesh YadavTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

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Bombay HC sentences Tarun Tejpal to 10 years rigorous imprisonemnt for rape PANAJI: Thirteen years after the arrest of a high profile editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, Tarun Tejpal, for rape in an elevator of a starred hotel, the Bombay high court on Thursday found him guilty of rape and sentenced him to ten years Rigorous imprisonment.The HC has granted him two weeks time to surrender.The sentence was pronounced in the State’s challenge to Tejpal’s acquittal by the trial court in 2021.After the court found him guilty, senior advocate Aabad Ponda representing Tejpal sought lenient sentence for him on the grounds that he is a senior citizen today, aged 62 and that the case is a 13 year old one.Tejpal addressing the division bench of Justices Dr Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar said he is a “political victim” and is 62 years old and a father of two with a wife and sought a lenient sentence.He said that there is so much evidence in favour of him that he can be acquitted ten times.Solicitor general of India representing Goa Government Tushar Mehta however argued for maximum sentence for Tejpal. He urged the court to consider that Tejpal was old enough to be in a parental position vis-a vis the survivor and argued that the sentence should set a precedent and have a strong deterrent effect.Mehta said that this was not some “misunderstanding or some banter” and pointed out that Tejpal had no remorse after the incident and alleged that he repeated the same thing on the next day. He said Tejpal was brazen despite resistance and despite the survivor saying no.He further argued that the survivor’s mature conduct after the incident had been wrongly portrayed as that of someone who had enjoyed the molestation.”It is high time the highest constitutional court of the state gives him the maximum sentence. No means No. You may be whosoever you are but when a girl says no it means no. That deterrent message may be considered,” Mehta told the court while arguing on maximum sentence for him.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesMehta during the hearings seeking Tejpal’s conviction argued that the survivor was a stellar witness and stood by her case and that Tejpal’s apology to her was proof of what he had done. He also argued that there was no reason for a man of her father’s age to send her such her the ‘the fingertips’ text message after midnight and that it could not reasonably have an innocent meaning. Ponda had countered that saying the ‘fingertips’ text message had a different context and did not prove charge of rape.He had argued that the survivor had a “propensity to lie” and that her behaviour after the alleged incident was not commensurate with someone who had been raped and traumatised.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe’56% Indian Vehicles Uninsured’: Supreme Court Calls For ‘Challans’, Urgent Enforcement Action123PhotostoriesIs 10,000 steps really necessary? 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Bombay HC sentences Tarun Tejpal to 10 years rigorous imprisonemnt for rape PANAJI: Thirteen years after the arrest of a high profile editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, Tarun Tejpal, for rape in an elevator of a starred hotel, the Bombay high court on Thursday found him guilty of rape and sentenced him to ten years Rigorous imprisonment.The HC has granted him two weeks time to surrender.The sentence was pronounced in the State’s challenge to Tejpal’s acquittal by the trial court in 2021.After the court found him guilty, senior advocate Aabad Ponda representing Tejpal sought lenient sentence for him on the grounds that he is a senior citizen today, aged 62 and that the case is a 13 year old one.Tejpal addressing the division bench of Justices Dr Neela Gokhale and Amit Jamsandekar said he is a “political victim” and is 62 years old and a father of two with a wife and sought a lenient sentence.He said that there is so much evidence in favour of him that he can be acquitted ten times.Solicitor general of India representing Goa Government Tushar Mehta however argued for maximum sentence for Tejpal. He urged the court to consider that Tejpal was old enough to be in a parental position vis-a vis the survivor and argued that the sentence should set a precedent and have a strong deterrent effect.Mehta said that this was not some “misunderstanding or some banter” and pointed out that Tejpal had no remorse after the incident and alleged that he repeated the same thing on the next day. He said Tejpal was brazen despite resistance and despite the survivor saying no.He further argued that the survivor’s mature conduct after the incident had been wrongly portrayed as that of someone who had enjoyed the molestation.”It is high time the highest constitutional court of the state gives him the maximum sentence. No means No. You may be whosoever you are but when a girl says no it means no. That deterrent message may be considered,” Mehta told the court while arguing on maximum sentence for him.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesMehta during the hearings seeking Tejpal’s conviction argued that the survivor was a stellar witness and stood by her case and that Tejpal’s apology to her was proof of what he had done. He also argued that there was no reason for a man of her father’s age to send her such her the ‘the fingertips’ text message after midnight and that it could not reasonably have an innocent meaning. Ponda had countered that saying the ‘fingertips’ text message had a different context and did not prove charge of rape.He had argued that the survivor had a “propensity to lie” and that her behaviour after the alleged incident was not commensurate with someone who had been raped and traumatised.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe’56% Indian Vehicles Uninsured’: Supreme Court Calls For ‘Challans’, Urgent Enforcement Action123PhotostoriesIs 10,000 steps really necessary? Doctor explains whether 6,000 steps are enough for a healthy heart and what science actually says10 iconic animals in India protected under the highest wildlife laws5 unusual dining etiquette rules from around the world that surprise most travellersFrom ice to rice: 6 smart ways to clean a greasy mixer jar10 famous foods invented inside prisonsBengal tiger vs Siberian tiger: What’s the difference?Always listening, always fixing? 5 signs you’re the ‘therapist friend’ in your groupWant to raise a confident and successful child? These 6 timeless parenting lessons from Chanakya Niti can shape their futureIndia named among the World’s 100 Best Cuisines: Here’s what makes it special5 must-have sneakers every wardrobe needs in 2026123Hot PicksSaurav DasDelhi rainAbhijeet DipkeRRB ALP CBT 2 answer keyTN Agriculture BudgetTASMAC OnlineAnkur WarikooUPI transactionsGold rate todayTop TrendingAkhilesh YadavNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeTasmac Liquor Online PurchaseJPSC ProtestNagpur Rape CaseDelhi Wife MurderAkhilesh YadavTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

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Kharge breaks silence as Jharkhand protest enters day 13 NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday backed students protesting over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations, saying his party stands with students and youth “whether it is Jharkhand, Punjab, Delhi or anywhere else”.Additionally, he also demanded that the Union home minister come to Parliament and explain the alleged lathi-charge and use of pellet guns against protesting students in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.”We want the Union Home Minister to come to the House and tell us who ordered the lathi-charge and the use of pellet guns on students,” Kharge said while addressing a press conference in Delhi.Speaking on the protests in Jharkhand, which have entered their 13th day, Kharge said the Congress stands with students and youth across the country.”We stand with the students, whether it is Jharkhand, Punjab, Delhi or anywhere else. Rahul Gandhi ji and I stand with the students,” he said.Kharge said the party would seek answers on what happened during the protests and was also reaching out to those involved. He added that the Congress would continue to raise students’ concerns, irrespective of whether they were protesting against an alliance partner or the Opposition.”We will ask why this happened and whether any mistake was made on our part. We are also writing to each of them (allaince partners) to understand what happened. Whether it is our alliance partner or the Opposition, we stand with students and youth and will continue to fight to resolve their problems,” Kharge said.The statements came as the LoP accused the Centre of refusing to respond to repeated demands for a statement in Parliament on the issue.”We have been asking for a statement from him on this. What is preventing him from making a statement? It could only be his arrogance. Either they are scared or don’t regard the existence of Parliament. I want to tell them- they should come to the House and make a statement,” Kharge said.The remarks came as protests over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations reached the state Assembly on Thursday, the first day of the Monsoon Session.Opposition MLAs raised slogans on the Assembly premises as the student agitation entered its 13th day, with six demonstrators continuing their hunger strike.The protest began on July 25 under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi. The students are demanding the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination and an independent probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday said his government would “soon take action” over protests alleging recruitment exam irregularities after meeting governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and discussing the situation. The protesters have demanded a CBI investigation or an inquiry by a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesMeanwhile, Congress leader and party in-charge for Jharkhand, K Raju, also expressed support for the protesting students on Thursday and welcomed the Hemant Soren government’s decision to form a ministerial committee to engage with them.In a post on X, Raju said, “The Congress in Jharkhand stands in support of the agitating students for justice in Ranchi.”Raju said leaders of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), along with the NSUI National President and IYC National Secretary, had joined the protest to express solidarity with the students.Meanwhile, the protesting students have announced a “Vidhan Sabha Gherao” on August 10 if their demands are not met.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorSubhadra SrivastavaSubhadra Srivastava is a journalist with The Times of India, covering geopolitics, international and national affairs. With over three years of experience, she focuses on national and global developments, conflict, diplomacy and their impact on India. Her work combines breaking news with in-depth analysis, offering readers context and clarity on the stories shaping the world.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe’56% Indian Vehicles Uninsured’: Supreme Court Calls For ‘Challans’, Urgent Enforcement Action123Photostories5 unusual dining etiquette rules from around the world that surprise most travellersFrom ice to rice: 6 smart ways to clean a greasy mixer jar10 famous foods invented inside prisonsBengal tiger vs Siberian tiger: What’s the difference?Always listening, always fixing? 5 signs you’re the ‘therapist friend’ in your groupWant to raise a confident and successful child? 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Kharge breaks silence as Jharkhand protest enters day 13 NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday backed students protesting over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations, saying his party stands with students and youth “whether it is Jharkhand, Punjab, Delhi or anywhere else”.Additionally, he also demanded that the Union home minister come to Parliament and explain the alleged lathi-charge and use of pellet guns against protesting students in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.”We want the Union Home Minister to come to the House and tell us who ordered the lathi-charge and the use of pellet guns on students,” Kharge said while addressing a press conference in Delhi.Speaking on the protests in Jharkhand, which have entered their 13th day, Kharge said the Congress stands with students and youth across the country.”We stand with the students, whether it is Jharkhand, Punjab, Delhi or anywhere else. Rahul Gandhi ji and I stand with the students,” he said.Kharge said the party would seek answers on what happened during the protests and was also reaching out to those involved. He added that the Congress would continue to raise students’ concerns, irrespective of whether they were protesting against an alliance partner or the Opposition.”We will ask why this happened and whether any mistake was made on our part. We are also writing to each of them (allaince partners) to understand what happened. Whether it is our alliance partner or the Opposition, we stand with students and youth and will continue to fight to resolve their problems,” Kharge said.The statements came as the LoP accused the Centre of refusing to respond to repeated demands for a statement in Parliament on the issue.”We have been asking for a statement from him on this. What is preventing him from making a statement? It could only be his arrogance. Either they are scared or don’t regard the existence of Parliament. I want to tell them- they should come to the House and make a statement,” Kharge said.The remarks came as protests over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations reached the state Assembly on Thursday, the first day of the Monsoon Session.Opposition MLAs raised slogans on the Assembly premises as the student agitation entered its 13th day, with six demonstrators continuing their hunger strike.The protest began on July 25 under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi. The students are demanding the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination and an independent probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday said his government would “soon take action” over protests alleging recruitment exam irregularities after meeting governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and discussing the situation. The protesters have demanded a CBI investigation or an inquiry by a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesMeanwhile, Congress leader and party in-charge for Jharkhand, K Raju, also expressed support for the protesting students on Thursday and welcomed the Hemant Soren government’s decision to form a ministerial committee to engage with them.In a post on X, Raju said, “The Congress in Jharkhand stands in support of the agitating students for justice in Ranchi.”Raju said leaders of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), along with the NSUI National President and IYC National Secretary, had joined the protest to express solidarity with the students.Meanwhile, the protesting students have announced a “Vidhan Sabha Gherao” on August 10 if their demands are not met.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorSubhadra SrivastavaSubhadra Srivastava is a journalist with The Times of India, covering geopolitics, international and national affairs. With over three years of experience, she focuses on national and global developments, conflict, diplomacy and their impact on India. Her work combines breaking news with in-depth analysis, offering readers context and clarity on the stories shaping the world.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThe Bankipur Effect: How One Bypoll Has Put BJP’s Upper-Caste Strategy Under The SpotlightSupreme Court Frees Man After 22 Years In Jail, Overturns Wrong ConvictionJPSC-JSSC Protesters Hold Tiranga March In Ranchi Ahead Of Aug 10 Assembly Gherao Over Leak RowKanpur-Lucknow Expressway Toll Suspended After Road Slippage, NHAI Acts Against Contractor’It’s My Moral Call To Be Here’: Author Nilotpal Mrinal Joins Ranchi Student ProtestMeta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Apologises Over PM Modi Video Row, Admits Paid Content BoostingJharkhand Students Display Mark Sheets, Allege Irregularities In JPSC-JSSC Evaluation’Merit Can’t Beat Money’: Jharkhand Aspirant On Hunger Strike Demand Strong JPSC-JSSC Reforms’I’m A Farmer’s Son, I Can’t Buy Papers’: In JPSC-JSSC Exam Leak, Students Demand CBI Probe’56% Indian Vehicles Uninsured’: Supreme Court Calls For ‘Challans’, Urgent Enforcement Action123Photostories5 unusual dining etiquette rules from around the world that surprise most travellersFrom ice to rice: 6 smart ways to clean a greasy mixer jar10 famous foods invented inside prisonsBengal tiger vs Siberian tiger: What’s the difference?Always listening, always fixing? 5 signs you’re the ‘therapist friend’ in your groupWant to raise a confident and successful child? These 6 timeless parenting lessons from Chanakya Niti can shape their futureIndia named among the World’s 100 Best Cuisines: Here’s what makes it special5 must-have sneakers every wardrobe needs in 20265 timeless lessons from your grandparents that modern life forgot10 baby names inspired by dawn, sunset, and the sky123Hot PicksSaurav DasDelhi rainAbhijeet DipkeRRB ALP CBT 2 answer keyTN Agriculture BudgetTASMAC OnlineAnkur WarikooUPI transactionsGold rate todayTop TrendingAkhilesh YadavNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeTasmac Liquor Online PurchaseJPSC ProtestNagpur Rape CaseDelhi Wife MurderAkhilesh YadavTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case

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