Jharkhand Students Protests Live Updates: Police resort to lathi charge during 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' march of protesting students

Amid the ongoing protest by JPSC-JSSC aspirants in Ranchi, Jharkhand Minister Deepika Pandey Singh on Monday said the state government had agreed to everything within its capacity, while stressing that decisions on examination cancellations must follow the constitutional framework.

The minister said the government respects the right to protest in a democracy and that the administration had been instructed to maintain law and order. She also said there had been no communication gap with the protesters, with discussions continuing for four days.

“It wasn't a lack of communication; we held discussions for hours--talks have been ongoing for four days. We agreed to everything that was within the state government's capacity to address,” she said.

India on Monday condemned the alleged defacement of the premises of its Embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia, by what the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described as “anti-India elements” and said it had taken up the matter with Slovenian authorities.

“We condemn the defacement of the premises of our Embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia by anti-India elements,” the MEA said in a statement.

The ministry stressed that diplomatic premises are protected under the Vienna Convention and called on Slovenian authorities to hold those responsible accountable.

“Under the Vienna Convention, diplomatic premises are inviolable and must be protected,” the MEA said.

India has raised the matter with Slovenian authorities both in New Delhi and Ljubljana, seeking action against those behind what it described as “reprehensible acts”.

India flags ‘hateful propaganda’, disinformation

The MEA also called on law enforcement authorities elsewhere to take note of what it described as “hateful propaganda and disinformation” being spread by such groups.

The statement comes amid India's concerns over activities targeting its diplomatic missions and officials abroad.

he United Arab Emirates said on Monday it had thwarted cyberattacks targeting its aviation, energy and education sectors, according to the Emirati state news agency, as cited by Reuters.

The UAE said the attacks targeted critical sectors but did not provide further details on the perpetrators or the extent of any disruption.

Authorities said the country's cybersecurity teams had taken measures to counter the attacks and protect affected systems.

JMM MP Mahua Maji on Monday said the Jharkhand government had accepted 98 per cent of the demands raised by students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, but claimed the agitation continued after the protesters later decided against calling it off.

Maji was speaking about the ongoing student protest in Jharkhand, where job aspirants are marching towards the Vidhan Sabha over alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

he Supreme Court will hear on August 13 Tamil Nadu’s plea seeking the release of its share of Cauvery river water from Karnataka, amid the continuing dispute between the two states over water sharing.

Tamil Nadu has approached the apex court seeking directions for Karnataka to release its allocated share of Cauvery water.

The matter is scheduled to come up for hearing before the Supreme Court on August 13.

The Cauvery water dispute has long been a contentious issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with the sharing of the river’s waters governed by judicial and tribunal decisions.

Further details of Tamil Nadu’s plea and the directions sought from Karnataka will be considered by the Supreme Court during the hearing on August 13.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mohammed Nadimul Haque on Monday submitted a notice under Rule 267 (Notice of Motion for Suspension of rules) in the Rajya Sabha, demanding the suspension of all listed business for today to urgently debate the alleged political violence in West Bengal, an attack on party chief Mamata Banerjee's convoy, and the alleged police action against protesting students in the national capital.

The TMC also demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah appear before Parliament to address repeated security lapses and a "rapidly shrinking space for democratic dissent".

In the notice, Haque requested the Upper House to apply Rule 267 to discuss atrocities against students who protested at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and in Bihar.

"Students who were protesting peacefully against exam paper leaks faced brutal attacks by men in uniform. Sticks embedded with nails, tear gas, stun batons, pellet guns, and even AK-47 guns were used against them," he said.

He also urged an urgent discussion on the attack on former West Bengal Chief Minister's convoy. The attack allegedly took place when Banerjee was on her way to meet the grieving family of a Trinamool Congress worker who died in police custody.

Two alleged gangsters involved in extortion cases were injured and arrested following an exchange of fire with police in Mallanwala area of Punjab's Firozpur district, officials said.

According to Firozpur Senior Superintendent of Police Bhupinder Singh, the incident took place during a police blockade when two men travelling on a motorcycle were signalled to stop.

"During the blockade, two people were seen riding on motorcycles. They were signalled to stop. They did not stop and tried to drive back. When the police party tried to stop them, they fired.

They fired two or three shots at the police vehicle, and the police responded by taking cover behind their vehicle," the SSP said.

He said both suspects were injured in the ensuing exchange of fire and were subsequently shifted to hospital for treatment.

The accused have been identified as Harpreet Singh, son of Jitender Singh and a resident of Talwandi Sobha under Sadar Patti police station, and Dilbagh Singh, son of Rajpal Singh.

"Both of them have been arrested. Two pistols have been recovered from them, which they used to fire at the police," Bhupinder Singh said.

Six members of armed groups in Colombia were killed on Sunday during clashes following the recent inauguration of the country's new President Abelardo de la Espriella, he announced.

The military operations are among the first between the new government and illegal groups, and mark "a clear and powerful message to all bandits," the far-right leader said in a statement. "There is nowhere for them to hide."

An 80-year-old woman died while leaving her home trying to escape a massive wildfire in Canada's British Columbia province, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said late Sunday.

The Summerland fire, which broke out Friday near Okanagan Lake, has spread rapidly and led to the evacuation of more than 20,000 people.