Category: INDIA

New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) Oil marketing company Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) plans to buy some ships of its own for importing crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in order to establish a more reliable supply chain and minimise disruptions due to geopolitical uncertainties such as the West Asia conflict.

Indian Oil’s Director, Finance, Anuj Jain, said during the company’s earnings call last week that tenders for the purchase of a few vessels were issued some months ago. The company currently has three crude oil tankers and nine LPG carriers on time charter, which have helped it manage shipping costs during the West Asia conflict when spot rates for shipping have soared.

Freight rates for LPG have also increased sharply. Spot rates have risen to around $160–$180 per tonne from normal levels of about $40 per tonne. The increase comes amid the increasing attacks on merchant ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which 20 per cent of the world’s energy exports transit during normal times.

During the October 31 earnings call, Jain said Indian Oil was working on three areas of its shipping operations. These include managing its existing chartered fleet, purchasing vessels, and exploring options to build ships in India.

Apart from buying ships, Indian Oil is also looking at options to place orders for ships with Indian shipyards under the government’s Make in India policy.

The refiner had earlier explored plans to acquire four medium-range vessels through an arrangement involving Shipping Corporation of India and other state-run oil companies.

Indian Oil has long-term shipping contracts in place which have cushioned the company from the sharp hike in freight rates due to the Iran war. With the Houthi rebels taking control of the coastal areas in Yemen around the Red Sea, the situation has become worse, according to senior officials.

The oil giant pays around $2–$2.50 per barrel to transport crude oil under its long-term charter arrangements, while spot market rates have surged to $8–$10 per barrel.

The company also has nine LPG carriers on time charter. Spot freight charges for LPG shipments have shot up to around $160–$180 per tonne, compared with about $40 per tonne earlier.

Indian Oil has also diversified its crude imports amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with more supplies being sourced outside West Asia from countries such as Russia, Venezuela, Brazil and countries in Africa.

During the first half of FY27, around 87 per cent of Indian Oil’s crude purchases were made in the spot market, compared with about 50 per cent in the previous financial year. Russian crude accounted for around 55 per cent of the purchases during the six-month period, while West Asian supplies came down to around 24 per cent.

The Indian basket of crude imports, which averaged around $65-70 per barrel before the Iran war broke out in February, shot past the $100 mark in March and averaged about $120 per barrel in October, Jain said.

Apart from cutting costs by buying more Russian crude, the company has been buying cheap heavy crude from Venezuela, which can be processed at its Paradip refinery on the Odisha coast.

–IANS

Kolkata, Nov 8 (IANS) Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari rang in Diwali festivities with the Border Security Force (BSF) jawans at a border outpost in Hingalganj, situated along the India-Bangladesh border.

The Chief Minister reached the BSF camp this morning to celebrate the festival of lights with India’s brave jawans.

The move by the West Bengal CM, seen as a first-of-its-kind initiative, comes along the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s yearly tradition of celebrating Diwali with the jawans.

This also marks a break from the past, given his predecessor and former CM Mamata Banerjee’s strained ties and uncomfortable relationship with the forces over border fencing.

The Bengal Chief Minister wished the jawans on Diwali and Kali Puja, handed them sweets and diyas, and also spent time with them at the camp, apparently discussing their daily lives and challenges.

He also announced that the state will make land available to the force for border fencing.

“The Chief Minister said that the land the BSF needed for fencing, held up under the previous Government, has now been handed over, and that the State will give more land if it is needed to secure the border,” an official government statement said.

The Chief Minister also issued an ‘apology’ to the jawans over alleged derogatory remarks and behaviour of the previous regime towards the BSF and CRPF.

Speaking at the BSF camp, Adhikari said, “The previous government in the state, the way they treated the BSF, the way they used it, for this, I, as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, apologise for this misdeed of the previous government. The bad words that they used against the BSF and the CRPF… The people, the common person, have responded to this in the end. This is the land of Swami Vivekananda. He said, “Leave what has happened behind and move forward.” Now we have to move forward.”

The Chief Minister also announced setting up the ‘Seema Mitra’ award from next year, which will recognise exceptional work in guarding the country’s border.

A selection committee will shortlist the awardees.

“We will give the ‘Seema Mitra’ award from next year for BSF, SSB and West Bengal police personnel,” the Chief Minister said as per the statement.

–IANS

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Agartala, Nov 8 (IANS) More than 10 lakh devotees and visitors from across the country are expected to attend the three-day Diwali festival, which will be inaugurated by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday evening at the historic 525-year-old Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Gomati district, officials said.

The famous temple, located at Udaipur, around 64 km south of Agartala, is regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in the country. It was built in 1501 by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya, who ruled the erstwhile princely state of Tripura from 1490 to 1515.

Local MLA Abhishek Debroy and Gomati District Magistrate Rinku Lather said that all arrangements for the annual festival had been completed, with several initiatives taken to make this year’s celebrations more attractive.

“We expect more than 10 lakh devotees and visitors including a record number of women from across the country to converge at the three-day festival. It is one of the biggest Diwali festivals in the entire Northeastern region,” Debroy told the media.

To accommodate the additional rush of passengers during the Diwali festival, the Northeast Frontier Railway will operate a special train on Sunday.

An official of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department said that a spectacular drone show would be one of the major attractions of the inaugural evening on Sunday.

Besides, beautifully decorated government exhibition stalls, special thematic stalls showcasing Tripura’s rich heritage, traditional culture and indigenous cuisine have been set up within the temple complex, she added.

The official also said that a special sand sculpture depicting the Mata Tripura Sundari Temple atop a tortoise, symbolising the unique religious and cultural identity of the shrine, would be another major attraction of the festival.

Meanwhile, fulfilling a long-standing public demand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the redeveloped Mata Tripura Sundari Temple and offered prayers at the shrine on September 22, 2025.

A senior Tourism Department official said that under the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme of the Union Tourism Ministry, the 525-year-old Tripura Sundari Temple had been redeveloped at a cost of more than Rs 54 crore.

The Central government provided Rs 34.43 crore, while the Tripura government contributed Rs 17.61 crore towards the project.

The temple, built in 1501 by the erstwhile king Maharaja Dhanya Manikya at Udaipur, is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in the country.

It is also regarded as the third such prominent shrine in eastern India, after the Kali Temple at Kalighat in Kolkata and the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati.

After 517 years of monarchy, the erstwhile princely state of Tripura merged with the Indian Union on October 15, 1949, following an agreement signed between Kanchan Prabha Devi, the then Regent Maharani, and the Governor-General of India.

–IANS

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Chennai, Nov 8 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar has issued notices to four former AIADMK legislators who joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), intensifying proceedings in a politically significant disqualification case stemming from the Assembly confidence vote earlier this year.

The four legislators have been directed to appear for hearings on November 10, 11 and 12. The Speaker is expected to hear final arguments on November 17 before deciding on the disqualification petitions.

The controversy dates back to May 13, when the Tamil Nadu Assembly witnessed a confidence vote involving the government.

During the proceedings, 25 AIADMK legislators allegedly defied their party whip and voted in favour of the government. After the vote, AIADMK whip Agri Krishnamoorthy submitted a petition to the Speaker seeking their disqualification under the Constitution’s anti-defection provisions.

However, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami subsequently decided to withdraw the complaint against 21 legislators, effectively pardoning them for violating the party directive.

The party nevertheless pursued disqualification proceedings against four legislators who had subsequently resigned from the AIADMK and joined the TVK. Meanwhile, two other legislators, M.R. Vijayabhaskar and C. Vijayabhaskar, also submitted their resignations, bringing the number of legislators involved in the pending proceedings to six.

Krishnamoorthy subsequently approached the Madras High Court challenging the Speaker’s decision to accept the resignations. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan upheld the resignations’ validity, observing that they were genuine and voluntary.

The court also directed the Speaker to dispose of the pending disqualification petitions within two months.

Following the judicial directive, the Speaker accelerated the proceedings and scheduled personal hearings for the four former AIADMK legislators. Palaniswami’s legal representatives are also expected to present their arguments during the hearings.

The proceedings have gained considerable political significance because Maragatham Kumaravel and Sathyabama, two legislators linked to the controversy, have already contested and won Assembly by-elections on TVK tickets.

An adverse ruling could raise questions about their eligibility to continue as legislators and contest future elections, depending on the decision’s legal consequences.

With the final hearing scheduled for November 17, the Speaker’s ruling is expected to have important implications for the TVK and the evolving political equations in Tamil Nadu.

–IANS

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Chennai, Nov 8 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) has announced that the extended deadline for submitting online applications for the Group-4 examination will expire at 11.59 p.m. on Sunday, giving eligible candidates their final opportunity to register for the recruitment examination scheduled for January 10, 2027.

The commission had initially fixed November 5 as the last date for submitting applications.

However, following requests from several aspirants seeking additional time to complete the registration process, the deadline was extended by three days to November 8.

With the extended application window closing on Sunday night, candidates who have not yet completed their registration have been advised to submit their applications without further delay.

According to the announced schedule, eligible applicants can complete the online registration process through the commission’s official website, www.tnpsc.gov.in.

Candidates can also access the relevant information and application facilities through the commission’s Tamil-language portal.

The TNPSC has also provided an opportunity for candidates who have already submitted their applications to correct errors or update certain details.

The application correction window will remain open from November 9 to November 11.

During this period, applicants can review their submitted forms and make permissible modifications in accordance with the commission’s guidelines. Candidates have been advised to carefully verify their personal information, educational qualifications and other particulars before the correction facility closes.

The commission has scheduled the Group-4 written examination for January 10, 2027. The examination will be conducted in a single session from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

The Group-4 recruitment examination is an important opportunity for candidates seeking government employment in Tamil Nadu. It attracts considerable interest among aspirants preparing for various posts in the state’s administrative and subordinate services.

With the examination scheduled for January, applicants will have approximately two months to prepare after completing the registration process. Candidates are advised to regularly monitor the TNPSC website for further announcements regarding examination centres, hall tickets, instructions and other recruitment-related information.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 8 (IANS) A fourth FIR had been registered by the Kolkata Police in the case of ruckus in front of the residence of the Trinamool Congress General Secretary and the party’s Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member, Abhishek Banerjee, on the intervening night of November 6 and 7.

The fourth FIR had been registered based on a complaint lodged by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing Abhishek Banerjee and his followers of celebrating the 39th birthday of the Diamond Harbour MP by blocking the road in front of his residence at Kalighat Road in Kolkata and thereafter getting engaged into skirmishes with the local people, including the local BJP workers.

Earlier, three other FIRs were registered in the matter, of which two were registered suo motu by the Kolkata Police.

In one of these two FIRs registered suo motu by the Kolkata police, Abhishek Banerjee had been named.

The third FIR had been registered based on the complaint lodged by the Diamond Harbour MP at Kalighat Police Station, where he accused “unknown BJP workers” of launching an attack on his followers who assembled in front of his house on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday to celebrate his 39th birthday.

All four FIRs have been registered at the Kalighat Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the residences of both Abhishek Banerjee and her aunt as well as the former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee come.

The police have also arrested two persons in relation to the ruckus.

The main charge against the arrested duo is physically assaulting the on-duty policemen and even slapping one policeman.

Clashes broke out in front of Abhishek Banerjee’s residence at Kalighat in South Kolkata in phases between 2:30 and 3.30 a.m. on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

Many Trinamool leaders and activists had gathered at midnight to celebrate the birthday of the Diamond Harbour MP.

Tension spread in the area, with the local workers and supporters of the BJP and the Mamata-All India Trinamool Congress (MAITC) arguing, fighting, throwing bricks, and even face-to-face clashes between those followers.

Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the Trinamool Congress office was also vandalised and an attempt was made to assassinate him.

In the clashes, some people from both the clashing groups were injured.

The police had to resort to baton charges to disperse the violent mob. At one point of time, the Diamond Harbour MP was seen entering into heated argument with the on-duty police officers.

On Saturday morning, Mamata Banerjee said that she would approach the Supreme Court in the matter.

She also described the incident as a joint conspiracy by the BJP workers and cops of Kalighat Police Station, especially the officer-In-charge, Bolai Bag.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 8 (IANS) A mother and her daughter were arrested on Sunday in connection with the fatal stabbing of the daughter’s live-in partner in the Garia area on the outskirts of Kolkata, police said.

The victim was identified as Sarthak Sarkar, a software engineer employed at a company in Salt Lake’s Sector V. His body was recovered Saturday night from a rented flat in Garia, where he lived with his girlfriend, Sanchalika Basu.

According to police, a disturbance broke out between the couple Saturday night, during which Basu allegedly struck Sarkar on the shoulder with a sharp weapon. Neighbours, alerted by screams, rushed to the flat and took the injured man to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Police arrested Basu after an initial investigation and subsequently arrested her mother, Moumita Basu, on suspicion of involvement in the murder.

Investigators said they suspect the mother may also be connected to the killing and plan to interrogate both arrested persons in custody.

Sarkar, a native of Barasat in North 24 Parganas district, rented the Garia flat with Basu, who police said studied at Techno India Institute.

The motive for the disturbance remains unclear. Police are investigating whether the attack stemmed solely from the altercation or whether other reasons were involved, and are also examining what role the accused’s mother played in the killing.

The incident has caused a stir in the city during Kali Puja, with neighbours demanding exemplary punishment for the accused.

–IANS

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Lucknow, Nov 8 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has busted an inter-state criminal syndicate allegedly involved in a series of daring daylight robberies targeting cash couriers transporting money for spice and agricultural commodity traders, officials said on Sunday.

The STF arrested the mastermind of the gang, Dinesh Chandra Yadav alias Chhotu, along with five of his active associates during an operation early on Sunday.

The police also recovered Rs 48,45,000 in cash, along with weapons, vehicles and other articles suspected to have been used in the commission of the crimes.

According to officials, the STF received intelligence that members of the gang were assembling to distribute the proceeds of their robberies ahead of the Diwali festival.

Acting on the information, an STF team led by Inspector Hemant Bhushan Singh, under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar Singh, launched an operation and laid a blockade.

At around 1.50 am, the team intercepted and arrested six suspects near the gate of a cricket academy situated under the Sahara Bridge in the Gomti Nagar police station area of the Lucknow Commissionerate.

Apart from the “kingpin” Yadav, the arrested accused have been identified as Saurabh Yadav, 25, a resident of Lucknow; Aman alias Raman Yadav, 25, from Gomti Nagar in Lucknow; Saurabh Dixit, 22, also from Gomti Nagar; Mohit Kanoujia, 24, a resident of Lucknow; and Gyan Singh, 25, originally from Begusarai in Bihar and currently residing in Chinhat, Lucknow.

During interrogation, investigators reportedly uncovered the modus operandi adopted by the syndicate to identify and target cash couriers travelling between Gujarat and Lucknow.

According to the police, the gang depended on an informant named Amrit Lal Pal, who allegedly kept track of the movements of cash carriers and noted the registration numbers of scooters used by them.

Another operative, Kanoujia, was responsible for conducting reconnaissance on a motorcycle. He would allegedly monitor the movements of the couriers and alert other gang members as soon as a target began its journey, enabling the group to plan and execute the robbery.

The gang members would then intercept the couriers by deliberately ramming a car into their two-wheelers, causing them to fall on the road. Initially, the accused allegedly used a car to carry out the robberies. Later, they purchased another car using money obtained from previous heists and reportedly used it in subsequent operations.

Once the victims fell, the alleged mastermind, Yadav, would threaten them with a pistol, while other gang members assaulted them using iron rods and wooden sticks. The accused would then snatch bags containing large amounts of cash and flee from the spot, officials said.

Investigators said that questioning of the arrested suspects has linked the syndicate to several major robbery incidents reported across Lucknow. The recovery of cash, weapons, vehicles and other belongings during the operation is expected to assist the police in further investigating the gang’s activities and establishing its involvement in additional cases.

The STF recovered a total of Rs 48,45,000 in cash from the six accused. Of the recovered amount, Rs 12,50,000 was seized from Dinesh Yadav, Rs 10,90,000 from Saurabh Yadav, Rs 11,10,000 from Aman Yadav, Rs 5,75,000 from Dixit, Rs 4,20,000 from Kanoujia, and Rs 4,00,000 from Gyan Singh.

Apart from the cash, the police also seized an illegal .32 bore pistol fitted with a magazine, along with two live cartridges. A car allegedly purchased using money obtained through robberies and subsequently used in the gang’s operations was also recovered.

The STF further seized a motorcycle reportedly used by the accused for conducting reconnaissance and tracking the movements of their targets.

Seven mobile phones were also recovered from the arrested suspects. In addition, the police seized identity documents, driving licences and PAN cards belonging to victims and other associates, which are suspected to have been collected or retained during the criminal activities.

Following the arrests, a case has been registered at Gomti Nagar police station under Case Crime No. 491/2026. The accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act.

Local police have initiated further legal proceedings in the matter.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 8 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday apologised to the Border Security Force (BSF) over how the Central armed force was treated during the previous Trinamool Congress government.

The Chief Minister went to Hingalganj in North 24 Parganas district on the occasion of Diwali.

He reached the Hingalganj BSF camp by helicopter from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata.

Chief Minister Adhikari said, “I apologise to the BSF for the behaviour of the previous (Trinamool Congress) government.”

On the occasion of Diwali, The Chief Minister on behalf of the West Bengal government, greeted the BSF as the Chief Minister of the state.

While speaking at the BSF camp, CM Adhikari said, “The previous (Trinamool Congress) government in the state, the way they treated the BSF, the way they used it, for this, I, as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, apologise for this misdeed of the previous government. The bad words that they used on the BSF and the CRPF… The people, the common man has replied to this in the end. This is the land of Swami Vivekananda. He had said leave what has happened behind and move forward. Now we have to move forward.”

The Chief Minister also added, “We have to secure the country. We have to secure the border. The previous government (Trinamool Congress) did not give land (for the construction of fencing along India-Bangladesh border). The Indian government tried repeatedly, but even then it did not give us land. For us, the country comes first. That is why we are doing these things. Good coordination has been created. Coordination meeting was held.”

He said the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has done a lot of work in this short time after coming to power in the state, including strengthening the border security.

“We will work together in the coming days as well,” he added.

He celebrated Diwali with the jawans at the BSF camp for the first time as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, exchanging greetings and shared sweets.

West Bengal Director General of Police, Siddh Nath Gupta was also present with the Chief Minister.

Chief Minister Adhikari also visited the puja mandap next to the Hingalganj police station following which the Chief Minister will return to Kolkata Airport by helicopter from the Hingalganj College grounds.

In the afternoon, he will attend several Kali Pujas in Nandigram of East Midnapore district.

The Chief Minister will also attend an event at the Nandigram police station.

Earlier on Sunday, Chief Minister Adhikari celebrated the festivities with the jawans and police personnel on duty at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport by lighting ceremonial lamps, sharing sweets and exchanging greetings.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Nabin visited the residence of Bharat Ratna Lal Krishna Advani to personally extend birthday greetings and wishes, as the party patriarch entered his 100th year on Sunday.​

​The BJP chief was accompanied by Union Minister Piyush Goyal and the party’s general secretary, B. L. Santosh, who wished the party veteran good health and a long life; Santosh served as the 7th Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004.​

Sharing the pictures on his X handle, Nabin said, “From the horrors of Partition to the journey of nation-building, Advani ji’s public life has exemplified the idea of ‘Nation First’ and an unwavering commitment to it.”​

“His life philosophy of ‘Nation First, Party Next, Self Last’ will always remain a source of inspiration for the BJP’s organisational culture and its workers,” he further said.​

Earlier in the day, the BJP celebrated the 99th birthday by organising a puja and havan at the party’s headquarters, which saw a gathering of several party leaders admiring and applauding LK Advani’s contributions to India’s democracy and polity.​

The event, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Diwali, was organised to commemorate LK Advani’s contributions to the party organisation and the nation, and to celebrate his long public life.​

Addressing the event, Nitin Nabin said, “The life of revered Lal Krishna Advani ji is an inspiring example of nation first, cultural nationalism, and unwavering commitment to ideas. The journey from his historic rath yatra to the construction of the magnificent Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya is a saga of the resolve and struggle of millions of devotees of Lord Ram.”​

Further paying tribute to his Ram Temple movement, he said, “The historic Rath Yatra of Lal Krishna Advani ji gave the Ram Temple movement new direction and energy. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, that dream came true, and today Lord Ram is enshrined in his magnificent abode in Ayodhya.”​

Union Minister Piyush Goyal also recalled LK Advani’s contributions, describing him as an extraordinary figure with unwavering loyalty to the nation, steadfastness in his convictions and dedication to the organisation.​

–IANS

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