VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Image: ANI KOLKATA: The mother of the trainee doctor raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital in 2024 has sparked a sharp political controversy as a BJP candidate after a purported campaign video surfaced in which she is heard threatening to throw Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee into “the gutter and thrash her”. TMC has filed a complaint with Election Commission.”Just as my daughter was beaten to death after being dragged by her hair, I will grab her (CM) by her hair and spin her around. If I meet the CM, I will either put her in jail or throw her into the gutter and thrash her,” the BJP’s Panihati candidate is heard saying in the purported clip from an interaction in the north Kolkata suburb of Sodepur late Saturday evening.Earlier, in the same interaction, the mother said she was “primarily fighting against the CM, who is responsible for my daughter’s death at a govt hospital”, adding her daughter had been murdered for raising her voice against corruption in state-run medical colleges.She also accused Nirmal Ghosh, the current Panihati TMC MLA, of attempting to destroy evidence in her daughter’s case. She alleged that Tirthankar, Nirmal’s son and her TMC rival, had been fielded to “cover up the crime”.TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee wrote to chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, calling the remarks a “serious threat to democratic values and public decorum” and warning that they risked vitiating the electoral atmosphere. The party sought prompt legal and disciplinary action.BJP has not responded to the controversy. The candidate’s husband said they were unaware of any formal complaint and described the remarks as being made “in a moment of intense anger”.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDRDO Begins Work On Next-Generation Missile To Replace Prithvi Series : Reports“Adani Is BJP’s Financial Structure”: Rahul Gandhi Tears Into PM ModiPakistan To Return $3.5 Billion UAE Debt In April Despite Reserve StrainOil India Posts Record Crude Output From Rajasthan’s Thar Desert Amid West Asia Crisis‘True Friendship’: Iran Envoy Lauds India Ties, Clarifies Deleted Thank You PostsPM Modi Assures No Seat Cut For Southern States, Pushes Women’s Quota Bill‘Will Take It To Kolkata’: Pak Minister Khawaja Asif’s Fresh Threat After Rajnath’s Stern WarningBig Reveal: ISI Behind Chandigarh Attack, Global Terror Links Surface”Living In Fear”: Indian Family In Bahrain Amid Escalating Iran War‘Genius Move’: Ex-US Pilot Hails India’s Ploy To Use Rafale Decoys In Op Sindoor To Fool Pakistan123PhotostoriesSummer Meal: How to make light and comforting Boondi Kadhi for dinnerFSSAI shares how much oil you should consume in a day and effective steps to track oil intake; easy zero-oil dishes insideMeet 5 Indian singers who are setting the nation’s hottest fashion trendsTop K-pop songs from the most romantic K-dramas: ‘Goblin’, ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and moreYou don’t have diabetes, but your blood sugar may still be unstable: What to watch and how to fix itTop 5 premium localities in Greater Noida attracting affluent buyers and long-term investorsIs clay pot (matka) water safe? 5-step cleaning tips & summer benefits of matka waterFrom Carmen Electra to Eddie Murphy: Looking back at the most shocking short-lived celebrity weddingsBest Angelina Jolie movies of all time: ‘Girl, Interrupted’, ‘Maleficent’ and moreShiney Ahuja, Rimi Sen to Uday Chopra : The 2000s Bollywood faces who faded away from the big screen123Hot PicksIPL ScoreUpdated IPL Points TableApp Leader Raghav ChadhaLPG ShortageStephen CurryPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingYesterday IPL match resultVaibhav SooryavanshiStrait of HormuzIPL 2026Saudi Arabia travel ban rulesToll PaymentIran Drone StrikeHailee SteinfeldSchool Holidays in AprilIran war news Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son Joseph Baena wins INBA Iron Gladiator title Capricorn Horoscope Today, April 6, 2026: If you’re single, you may feel ready to reply to someone you’ve been ignoring Image: ANI KOLKATA: The involvement of 500-odd judicial officers – judges in lower courts – from across Bengal in the adjudication of doubtful cases flagged on the voters’ list published in Feb has sharply slowed down the disposal of cases in courts in the state.The overall “clearance rate” of cases in Bengal’s lower courts stood at 62% in 2025. This March, the monthly rate was just 42%. According to the district judiciary’s “virtual justice clock”, 90,685 cases were registered across the state in March, of which 38,527 were disposed of.Kolkata’s March disposal rate was even lower, at 39%. Of the 42,687 cases registered in lower courts in the city, 16,717 were disposed of. At 19%, West Burdwan had the lowest rate.On Feb 20, a Supreme Court bench led by CJI Surya Kant had decided to entrust judicial officers with an “extraordinary” responsibility – scanning the documents of around 60 lakh individuals placed under adjudication during the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll and decide whether their voting right could be restored.The bench had directed “an interim arrangement for the shifting of matters of interim relief or of an urgent nature to alternative courts for a week or 10 days, within which this entire process is scheduled to be completed”.However, the adjudication has been continuing for over a month. The judicial officers now face a deadline of April 6 and 9 for the two phases of the assembly polls scheduled for April 23 and 29.Special public prosecutor Bivas Chatterjee said the involvement of so many judicial officers in SIR duty is hampering rape, murder and Pocso cases as well as hearings on bail applications. “One fast-track court judge has now been put in charge of four to five other courts, whose judges are on SIR duty. As a result, getting dates for cases has become difficult. Case pendency is increasing as it is impossible to handle so much work,” he said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDRDO Begins Work On Next-Generation Missile To Replace Prithvi Series : Reports“Adani Is BJP’s Financial Structure”: Rahul Gandhi Tears Into PM ModiPakistan To Return $3.5 Billion UAE Debt In April Despite Reserve StrainOil India Posts Record Crude Output From Rajasthan’s Thar Desert Amid West Asia Crisis‘True Friendship’: Iran Envoy Lauds India Ties, Clarifies Deleted Thank You PostsPM Modi Assures No Seat Cut For Southern States, Pushes Women’s Quota Bill‘Will Take It To Kolkata’: Pak Minister Khawaja Asif’s Fresh Threat After Rajnath’s Stern WarningBig Reveal: ISI Behind Chandigarh Attack, Global Terror Links Surface”Living In Fear”: Indian Family In Bahrain Amid Escalating Iran War‘Genius Move’: Ex-US Pilot Hails India’s Ploy To Use Rafale Decoys In Op Sindoor To Fool Pakistan123PhotostoriesSummer Meal: How to make light and comforting Boondi Kadhi for dinnerHow to be successful in life, as per psychologyFSSAI shares how much oil you should consume in a day and effective steps to track oil intake; easy zero-oil dishes insideHow to deal with negative people: 5 effective psychology-based tipsMeet 5 Indian singers who are setting the nation’s hottest fashion trendsTop K-pop songs from the most romantic K-dramas: ‘Goblin’, ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and more10 simple habits and tips to master emotional intelligenceYou don’t have diabetes, but your blood sugar may still be unstable: What to watch and how to fix itTop 5 premium localities in Greater Noida attracting affluent buyers and long-term investorsIs clay pot (matka) water safe? 5-step cleaning tips & summer benefits of matka water123Hot PicksIPL ScoreUpdated IPL Points TableApp Leader Raghav ChadhaLPG ShortageStephen CurryPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingYesterday IPL match resultVaibhav SooryavanshiStrait of HormuzIPL 2026Saudi Arabia travel ban rulesToll PaymentIran Drone StrikeHailee SteinfeldSchool Holidays in AprilIran war news Libra Horoscope Today, April 6, 2026: Drink enough water, and cut down on salty snacks EC seizes voter inducements worth over 650cr from poll-bound states, UT Himanta Biswa Sarma, wife to sue Pawan Khera over ‘foreign passports’ claim Image: IANS BHUBANESWAR: LPG cylinders will no longer be available in the open market in Odisha and only customers who have completed their e-KYC can procure them from authorised dealers, food supplies and consumer welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra announced on Sunday, amid complaints of black-marketing due to alleged shortage of cooking gas, reports Diana Sahu.”The department has been proactive in its efforts to curb the unauthorised sale of LPG cylinders in the open market at exorbitant rates. There is no disruption in the supply of domestic cylinders, and as per the new guidelines, they are being supplied to urban consumers within 25 days and to rural consumers within 45 days of booking,” Patra said. Sale of 5 kg cylinders in the open market has been banned to curb black marketing of cooking gas in the state. In another development, 27 LPG cylinders were seized in Dhenkanal town on Sunday for black marketing.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDRDO Begins Work On Next-Generation Missile To Replace Prithvi Series : Reports“Adani Is BJP’s Financial Structure”: Rahul Gandhi Tears Into PM ModiPakistan To Return $3.5 Billion UAE Debt In April Despite Reserve StrainOil India Posts Record Crude Output From Rajasthan’s Thar Desert Amid West Asia Crisis‘True Friendship’: Iran Envoy Lauds India Ties, Clarifies Deleted Thank You PostsPM Modi Assures No Seat Cut For Southern States, Pushes Women’s Quota Bill‘Will Take It To Kolkata’: Pak Minister Khawaja Asif’s Fresh Threat After Rajnath’s Stern WarningBig Reveal: ISI Behind Chandigarh Attack, Global Terror Links Surface”Living In Fear”: Indian Family In Bahrain Amid Escalating Iran War‘Genius Move’: Ex-US Pilot Hails India’s Ploy To Use Rafale Decoys In Op Sindoor To Fool Pakistan123PhotostoriesSummer Meal: How to make light and comforting Boondi Kadhi for dinnerFSSAI shares how much oil you should consume in a day and effective steps to track oil intake; easy zero-oil dishes insideMeet 5 Indian singers who are setting the nation’s hottest fashion trendsTop K-pop songs from the most romantic K-dramas: ‘Goblin’, ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and moreYou don’t have diabetes, but your blood sugar may still be unstable: What to watch and how to fix itTop 5 premium localities in Greater Noida attracting affluent buyers and long-term investorsIs clay pot (matka) water safe? 5-step cleaning tips & summer benefits of matka waterFrom Carmen Electra to Eddie Murphy: Looking back at the most shocking short-lived celebrity weddingsBest Angelina Jolie movies of all time: ‘Girl, Interrupted’, ‘Maleficent’ and moreShiney Ahuja, Rimi Sen to Uday Chopra : The 2000s Bollywood faces who faded away from the big screen123Hot PicksIPL ScoreUpdated IPL Points TableApp Leader Raghav ChadhaLPG ShortageStephen CurryPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingYesterday IPL match resultVaibhav SooryavanshiStrait of HormuzIPL 2026Saudi Arabia travel ban rulesToll PaymentIran Drone StrikeHailee SteinfeldSchool Holidays in AprilIran war news Scorpio Horoscope Today, April 6, 2026: If you’re single, attraction can show up in a social setting IMD predicts cooler temps in north-west India, rain likely Image: IANS New Delhi: Nearly eight lakh new piped gas consumers have joined the fold over the past month amid a drive by the govt and gas companies to push its use and reduce dependence on cooking gas cylinders, a top official said Sunday.”We have managed quite well, delivering around 50 lakh cylinders consistently, fully meeting domestic demand and up to 80% of commercial demand. There is no reason for anybody to fear shortages,” the official told TOI. Around half the new piped gas connections – to households and for commercial use – have been activated, while the rest are under process.Separately, over 16,000 LPG connections have been surrendered following the govt’s nudge to ensure those with active piped gas connections do not continue to retain cylinders, easing pressure on the system. People wishing to surrender their connections can submit details on the designated portal, which has a ‘hall of fame’ to recognise consumers who have voluntarily given up their connections.Amid concerns over supply shortages and long queues, officials said there was sufficient stock of crude oil, petroleum products and cooking gas, which were being replenished. “We have managed quite well for over a month, and we are tying up supplies and importing from wherever required,” the official said.The Centre has urged people to use alternative such as induction and electric cooktops wherever feasible. Officials said online cylinder bookings have risen to 95%, while authentication code-based deliveries – aimed at preventing diversion at the distributor level – have increased from 53% in Feb to 90% now.To help the migrant population without regular LPG connections, oil companies have sold about 6.6 lakh portable 5kg cylinders since March 23, including 90,000 on Saturday, up from a daily average of 70-75,000 before the war.Govt expects recent moves to improve the flow of raw material to industries facing shortages. From packaging units to pharma, companies were hit hard by supply disruptions due to West Asia conflict.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDRDO Begins Work On Next-Generation Missile To Replace Prithvi Series : Reports“Adani Is BJP’s Financial Structure”: Rahul Gandhi Tears Into PM ModiPakistan To Return $3.5 Billion UAE Debt In April Despite Reserve StrainOil India Posts Record Crude Output From Rajasthan’s Thar Desert Amid West Asia Crisis‘True Friendship’: Iran Envoy Lauds India Ties, Clarifies Deleted Thank You PostsPM Modi Assures No Seat Cut For Southern States, Pushes Women’s Quota Bill‘Will Take It To Kolkata’: Pak Minister Khawaja Asif’s Fresh Threat After Rajnath’s Stern WarningBig Reveal: ISI Behind Chandigarh Attack, Global Terror Links Surface”Living In Fear”: Indian Family In Bahrain Amid Escalating Iran War‘Genius Move’: Ex-US Pilot Hails India’s Ploy To Use Rafale Decoys In Op Sindoor To Fool Pakistan123PhotostoriesSummer Meal: How to make light and comforting Boondi Kadhi for dinnerHow to be successful in life, as per psychologyFSSAI shares how much oil you should consume in a day and effective steps to track oil intake; easy zero-oil dishes insideHow to deal with negative people: 5 effective psychology-based tipsMeet 5 Indian singers who are setting the nation’s hottest fashion trendsTop K-pop songs from the most romantic K-dramas: ‘Goblin’, ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and more10 simple habits and tips to master emotional intelligenceYou don’t have diabetes, but your blood sugar may still be unstable: What to watch and how to fix itTop 5 premium localities in Greater Noida attracting affluent buyers and long-term investorsIs clay pot (matka) water safe? 5-step cleaning tips & summer benefits of matka water123Hot PicksIPL ScoreUpdated IPL Points TableApp Leader Raghav ChadhaLPG ShortageStephen CurryPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingYesterday IPL match resultVaibhav SooryavanshiStrait of HormuzIPL 2026Saudi Arabia travel ban rulesToll PaymentIran Drone StrikeHailee SteinfeldSchool Holidays in AprilIran war news Salman Khan to commence director Vamshi Paidipally’s shoot April 18, amid buzz about ‘Maatrubhumi’ delay Virgo Horoscope Today, April 6, 2026: Saturn reminds you that quick gains look tempting, but they don’t stick Image: PTI Kolkata: PM Modi cited Sunday the confinement of seven judicial officers on SIR duty in Malda district as proof of a collapsing law-and-order situation in Bengal, sharpening his attack on Trinamool Congress at a BJP election rally in Cooch Behar.”Citizens across the country were shocked at how judicial officers were held hostage in Malda. What kind of a govt is this where even judges and constitutional authorities aren’t safe? If they’re not safe, how can ordinary people feel safe?” Modi said.Calling the situation “a state of jungle raj”, Modi said the situation had “deteriorated to such an extent that Supreme Court had to intervene”. He said SIR of poll rolls is aimed to identify “illegal settlers”..Malda in north Bengal turned into a political flashpoint after the gherao of judicial magistrates at a block office in Kaliachak subdivision last week during protests linked to electoral roll revision.PM Modi turned to cross-border infiltration, saying SIR of electoral rolls aimed to identify “illegal settlers” and remove their names.“Bengal’s demography has undergone a dangerous transformation in the 15 years of TMC govt. TMC has allowed infiltrators to enter Bengal and absorbed them into its syndicate network. That is why govt of India is identifying infiltrators and taking steps to remove them,” he said. He accused TMC govt of opposing SIR and “threatening to scrap” CAA to “protect infiltrators”, alleging that “rights of Hindu citizens who are legally settled here” were being undermined.Modi questioned TMC’s choice of naming its manifesto Ishtehar. “Instead of using a Bengali word, they have used the term ‘ishtehar’, which raises questions about how they are representing Bengal’s identity,” he said. He issued a warning directed at TMC functionaries: “You must trust the law on the day of voting… Ebar Bangla theke bhoy palabe (this time fear will disappear from Bengal). After this election, there will be full accountability for their actions… chun chun ke hisaab kiya jayega.”In Malda, district authorities initiated action against an additional district magistrate over alleged dereliction of duty during the Kaliachak gherao, while NIA continued its probe.About the AuthorTamaghna BanerjeeTamaghna Banerjee, a reporter from Kolkata, covers crime, aviation, human rights and politics. He has a keen interest in human interest and rural reporting. He has done his postgraduation in journalism and mass communication. He has a total of 14 years in journalism.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDRDO Begins Work On Next-Generation Missile To Replace Prithvi Series : Reports“Adani Is BJP’s Financial Structure”: Rahul Gandhi Tears Into PM ModiPakistan To Return $3.5 Billion UAE Debt In April Despite Reserve StrainOil India Posts Record Crude Output From Rajasthan’s Thar Desert Amid West Asia Crisis‘True Friendship’: Iran Envoy Lauds India Ties, Clarifies Deleted Thank You PostsPM Modi Assures No Seat Cut For Southern States, Pushes Women’s Quota Bill‘Will Take It To Kolkata’: Pak Minister Khawaja Asif’s Fresh Threat After Rajnath’s Stern WarningBig Reveal: ISI Behind Chandigarh Attack, Global Terror Links Surface”Living In Fear”: Indian Family In Bahrain Amid Escalating Iran War‘Genius Move’: Ex-US Pilot Hails India’s Ploy To Use Rafale Decoys In Op Sindoor To Fool Pakistan123PhotostoriesSummer Meal: How to make light and comforting Boondi Kadhi for dinnerFSSAI shares how much oil you should consume in a day and effective steps to track oil intake; easy zero-oil dishes insideMeet 5 Indian singers who are setting the nation’s hottest fashion trendsTop K-pop songs from the most romantic K-dramas: ‘Goblin’, ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and moreYou don’t have diabetes, but your blood sugar may still be unstable: What to watch and how to fix itTop 5 premium localities in Greater Noida attracting affluent buyers and long-term investorsIs clay pot (matka) water safe? 5-step cleaning tips & summer benefits of matka waterFrom Carmen Electra to Eddie Murphy: Looking back at the most shocking short-lived celebrity weddingsBest Angelina Jolie movies of all time: ‘Girl, Interrupted’, ‘Maleficent’ and moreShiney Ahuja, Rimi Sen to Uday Chopra : The 2000s Bollywood faces who faded away from the big screen123Hot PicksIPL ScoreUpdated IPL Points TableApp Leader Raghav ChadhaLPG ShortageStephen CurryPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingYesterday IPL match resultVaibhav SooryavanshiStrait of HormuzIPL 2026Saudi Arabia travel ban rulesToll PaymentIran Drone StrikeHailee SteinfeldSchool Holidays in AprilIran war news No Brahmin fielded by major parties in TN Indian-origin doctor to pay $14 million to settle allegations against him in US; performed unnecessary procedures Mumbai seafarer’s remains brought home, family seeks DNA proof | India News ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ records biggest box office opening with USD 372.5 million haul; Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ maintains holds over Top 10 spot | Leo Horoscope Today, April 6, 2026: Jupiter supports steady growth, not flashy spending Scientists discovered at least 11 new species in Cambodia’s rocky ecosystems ‘How is that comedy?’: SNL UK faces backlash over crude joke referencing Mark Zuckerberg and Adolf Hitler HC lets married teen live with man of her choice | India News Gemini Horoscope Today, April 6, 2026: Don’t tease your partner about sensitive topics in front of relatives Cancer Horoscope Today, April 6, 2026: Avoid lending money just because you feel emotional BJP office grenade blast: ISI plot hatched by handlers in Portugal & Germany, says Punjab DGP Women’s rights & religion: CJI-led 9-J bench includes all faiths, and a woman | India News Paresh Rawal calls social media a ‘puking pot’: ‘Negativity shouldn’t be spread, I am trying to improve’ Taurus Horoscope Today, April 6, 2026: Ask for help without pride PTI file photo NEW DELHI: In less than a week since the controversial amendments involving definition of transgender persons, omission of “self-perceived identity” as the basis for approval for getting a TG certificate from a district magistrate and introduction of a medical board among other things were notified as law, a writ petition has been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026.The Bill to amend the 2019 law was passed by Lok Sabha on March 24 and Rajya Sabha on March 25 with a voice vote amid strong objections from the opposition that demanded that the bill be referred to a standing committee for wider consultations. It became law after President of India Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on March 30.The petition challenging the law has been filed by well known transgender rights activists Laxmi Narayan Tripathi and Zainab Patel. At its core, the petition raises a key concern asking whether the state can redefine identity in a way that takes away a person’s right to define themselves.Incidentally, Tripathi and Patel were lead petitioners in the landmark NALSA v. Union of India (2014) case, which recognised the rights of transgender persons under the Constitution.In their current petition the activists have argued that the 2026 amendment changes the foundation of how transgender identity is understood in law. “It moves away from self-identification and replaces it with a narrow, state-driven definition based on fixed categories and medical conditions. In doing so, it departs from what the Supreme Court had already affirmed in NALSA that gender identity is a matter of personal dignity and choice,” the activists highlight.One of the central concerns raised is the replacement of the earlier definition of a transgender person with a closed framework. The petition points out that many transgender persons who do not fall within these categories could be left without legal recognition.The petition challenges the removal of the explicit right to self-perceived gender identity, and flags provisions that blur the line between transgender identity and situations of coercion or trafficking. It raises concerns that existing rights, including identity documents issued under the earlier framework, may be put at risk.The challenge is based on violations of fundamental rights under Articles 14, 15, 19, and 21 of the Constitution, along with established principles in international human rights law.“This law takes us backwards. In NALSA, the Supreme Court affirmed that our identity comes from within, not from a checklist created by the State. Today, that core principle is being undone. As petitioners in that very case, we have returned to the Court because this amendment does not just change definitions, it changes lives. It risks pushing many transgender persons outside the protection of the law itself,” Tripathi and Patel said in a joint statement.“This is not a technical correction. It is a constitutional question about dignity, autonomy, and whether the State can decide who we are,” they said.Both Tripathi and Patel have also previously served as members when the National Council for Transgender Persons – a statutory body under the law. Tripathi is the founder of Astitva Trust and National Network for Transgender Persons and Patel, a ‘Diversity Equity and Inclusion’ strategist who is also the founder of Pride Business Network Foundation.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDRDO Begins Work On Next-Generation Missile To Replace Prithvi Series : Reports“Adani Is BJP’s Financial Structure”: Rahul Gandhi Tears Into PM ModiPakistan To Return $3.5 Billion UAE Debt In April Despite Reserve StrainOil India Posts Record Crude Output From Rajasthan’s Thar Desert Amid West Asia Crisis‘True Friendship’: Iran Envoy Lauds India Ties, Clarifies Deleted Thank You PostsPM Modi Assures No Seat Cut For Southern States, Pushes Women’s Quota Bill‘Will Take It To Kolkata’: Pak Minister Khawaja Asif’s Fresh Threat After Rajnath’s Stern WarningBig Reveal: ISI Behind Chandigarh Attack, Global Terror Links Surface”Living In Fear”: Indian Family In Bahrain Amid Escalating Iran War‘Genius Move’: Ex-US Pilot Hails India’s Ploy To Use Rafale Decoys In Op Sindoor To Fool Pakistan123PhotostoriesSummer Meal: How to make light and comforting Boondi Kadhi for dinnerHow to be successful in life, as per psychologyFSSAI shares how much oil you should consume in a day and effective steps to track oil intake; easy zero-oil dishes insideHow to deal with negative people: 5 effective psychology-based tipsMeet 5 Indian singers who are setting the nation’s hottest fashion trendsTop K-pop songs from the most romantic K-dramas: ‘Goblin’, ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and more10 simple habits and tips to master emotional intelligenceYou don’t have diabetes, but your blood sugar may still be unstable: What to watch and how to fix itTop 5 premium localities in Greater Noida attracting affluent buyers and long-term investorsIs clay pot (matka) water safe? 5-step cleaning tips & summer benefits of matka water123Hot PicksIPL ScoreUpdated IPL Points TableApp Leader Raghav ChadhaLPG ShortageStephen CurryPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingYesterday IPL match resultVaibhav SooryavanshiStrait of HormuzIPL 2026Saudi Arabia travel ban rulesToll PaymentIran Drone StrikeHailee SteinfeldSchool Holidays in AprilIran war news What’s at stake for higher education and research in Trump’s new budget proposal Aries Horoscope Today, April 6, 2026: This is not a favourable day for investment “Please congratulate me”: Candace Owens claims victory as Blake Lively claims against Justin Baldoni dismissed before May 2026 trial Bill Ackman’s nephew vs ‘Ronda’: US billionaire’s viral rant against employee who is suing him for harassment Punjab ‘my soul’, says Chadha in response to AAP Punjab unit charges | India News Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth to engineers and college graduates looking to join technology industry: You just have to … Ladakh talks with open mind and heart: Sonam Wangchuk | India News Paresh Rawal reviews ‘Dhurandhar 2’, praises R Madhavan’s performance, joked to Aditya Dhar about playing Ajay Sanyal’s brother US: Gunfire reported near White House, Secret Service launches probe Who is Sarinasadat Hosseiny? Grandniece of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani arrested by ICE in Los Angeles raid Image: PTI SRINAGAR: A prickly pest stalks Kashmir’s “red gold”. Farmers in Pampore now live on pins and needles.Across Pampore’s saffron highlands — about 15km southeast of Srinagar in Pulwama district — an unusual predator is eating into one of the region’s most prized crops. The burrowing Indian crested porcupine, a nocturnal rodent, has begun feeding on saffron corms beneath the soil, hollowing out harvests before they can bloom.A corm is the underground, bulb-like stem of the Crocus sativus plant that produces autumn-flowering purple flowers and the precious red stigma used for the spice saffron — kong in Kashmiri, kesar in Hindi, zafaran in Persian.Pampore MLA Hasnian Masoodi of National Conference said the pace of destruction could erase Kashmir’s saffron in coming years. “Porcupines are devouring saffron roots. Production has fallen sharply from about 22,000kg a decade-and-a-half ago to nearly 1,000kg now,” he said.The crisis surfaced in J&K assembly Saturday, where forest minister Javed Ahmed Rana outlined measures after Masoodi raised the alarm. Teams from wildlife and forest departments are assessing damage and mapping vulnerable zones across Pampore’s saffron plateau, he said.Masoodi pushed back, saying ground reality is grimmer. “There is no wildlife survey. I don’t know how these porcupines came to Kashmir, but now they are here and destroying crops,” he said.For many farmers, losses are far steeper. Some report up to 80% damage to fields.In Khrew — a saffron-growing pocket roughly 20km southeast of Srinagar within Pampore — output has nearly vanished. “Khrew once contributed around 4,000kg to the total yield of 22,000kg, but fields there now lie largely unproductive,” said Masoodi, who hails from the area.Wildlife experts and officials trace the surge to a mix of ecological shifts. Deforestation has shrunk natural habitats, pushing porcupines towards cultivated land. Declining predator numbers — especially leopards — have removed a key check on their population. Warmer winters have extended foraging windows, allowing rodents to remain active longer through the year.Yet control options remain limited. As a protected species under wildlife law, porcupines cannot be killed, turning crop damage into a simmering human-animal conflict.Rana’s advisory to farmers reads like a defensive manual: clear caves and undergrowth that shelter rodents, erect mesh barriers buried 1.5m deep to block burrowing, paint tree trunks white or wrap them in gunny sacks to deter nocturnal movement, spray pepper-based organic repellents, place naphthalene near dens.Priority should go to worst-hit plots, he said.Farmers cannot shoulder that burden alone, Masoodi countered. “A roadmap has been outlined, but who will implement it?” he asked. “People lack resources. Without state action in fields, cultivation will be abandoned.”That prospect hangs heavy over Pampore’s karewa uplands by the Jhelum, long been known as the valley’s “saffron heart”, where the spice has shaped livelihoods and identity for centuries. If quills keep winning underground, blossoms may stop rising above it.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDRDO Begins Work On Next-Generation Missile To Replace Prithvi Series : Reports“Adani Is BJP’s Financial Structure”: Rahul Gandhi Tears Into PM ModiPakistan To Return $3.5 Billion UAE Debt In April Despite Reserve StrainOil India Posts Record Crude Output From Rajasthan’s Thar Desert Amid West Asia Crisis‘True Friendship’: Iran Envoy Lauds India Ties, Clarifies Deleted Thank You PostsPM Modi Assures No Seat Cut For Southern States, Pushes Women’s Quota Bill‘Will Take It To Kolkata’: Pak Minister Khawaja Asif’s Fresh Threat After Rajnath’s Stern WarningBig Reveal: ISI Behind Chandigarh Attack, Global Terror Links Surface”Living In Fear”: Indian Family In Bahrain Amid Escalating Iran War‘Genius Move’: Ex-US Pilot Hails India’s Ploy To Use Rafale Decoys In Op Sindoor To Fool Pakistan123PhotostoriesSummer Meal: How to make light and comforting Boondi Kadhi for dinnerHow to be successful in life, as per psychologyFSSAI shares how much oil you should consume in a day and effective steps to track oil intake; easy zero-oil dishes insideHow to deal with negative people: 5 effective psychology-based tipsMeet 5 Indian singers who are setting the nation’s hottest fashion trendsTop K-pop songs from the most romantic K-dramas: ‘Goblin’, ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and more10 simple habits and tips to master emotional intelligenceYou don’t have diabetes, but your blood sugar may still be unstable: What to watch and how to fix itTop 5 premium localities in Greater Noida attracting affluent buyers and long-term investorsIs clay pot (matka) water safe? 5-step cleaning tips & summer benefits of matka water123Hot PicksIPL ScoreUpdated IPL Points TableApp Leader Raghav ChadhaLPG ShortageStephen CurryPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingYesterday IPL match resultVaibhav SooryavanshiStrait of HormuzIPL 2026Saudi Arabia travel ban rulesToll PaymentIran Drone StrikeHailee SteinfeldSchool Holidays in AprilIran war news RCB vs CSK: Tim David goes ballistic, equals AB de Villiers record to … University of Pennsylvania updates study abroad application process: Here’s what’s new for students Zakir Khan roasts Bollywood, says everyone got jealous of ‘Dhurandhar’: ‘Bomb phoote Lyari mein, dhuaan Bandra se Juhu mein’ Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for April 6, 2026 Weekly Horoscope, April 6 to April 11, 2026: Read weekly astrological predictions ISRO launches Mission MITRA in Ladakh for astronaut study: Inside the 3,500m experiment testing human survival in space-like conditions IPL 2026: Hat-trick of losses for CSK as RCB run riot in Bengaluru | Cricket News Cursing at Iran won’t reopen Strait of Hormuz: Ro Khanna says Obama-like statesmanship needed now From suicidal thoughts to IPL 2026 comeback: LSG’s Mohammad Shami’s powerful story of survival Shah Rukh Khan and Ranveer Singh’s selfie sparks frenzy; fans say ‘wanna see Badshah and Dhurandhar in a movie together’ – PICS