GURGAON: Dense fog, biting midnight cold and deserted stretches of the Gurgaon–Faridabad Road created a chilling window for a brutal crime, as a 25-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped inside a moving van in the early hours of Tuesday, with her cries for help going unheard for nearly three hours. A day later, police arrested two van drivers in the case and said an identification parade will be conducted to ensure a fair trial. Faridabad police said the identities of the accused have been withheld as the survivor is yet to formally identify them in a parade. The suspects, drivers from Jhansi and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, were arrested by the Sector 48 crime branch, which also seized the Maruti Suzuki Eeco allegedly used in the crime.

Police said the woman had left her home around 8.30pm on Monday after an argument with her mother and told her sister she was going to a friend’s house. Though she planned to return within a few hours, she got delayed and eventually began her return close to midnight. Unable to find public transport at that hour, the woman accepted a lift in the van, unaware that two men were inside. Instead of taking her home, the men allegedly drove towards the Gurgaon–Faridabad Road and took her beyond the Hanuman temple on the stretch, steering through isolated pockets shrouded in dense fog. According to investigators, the woman was held captive in the vehicle for nearly three hours as it moved through lonely stretches of Faridabad. She allegedly screamed for help during the ordeal, but with poor visibility, biting cold and little traffic on the road, no one heard her cries. The family alleged the two men took turns to rape her inside the van before throwing her out of the vehicle while it was still in motion around 3am near Mula Hotel at Raja Chowk in SGM Nagar. The impact left the woman with serious facial injuries that required 12 stitches. She managed to contact her sister, who rushed her to a hospital in Faridabad. Though doctors advised shifting her to a Delhi hospital, the family admitted her to a private facility in the city. Police said a case has been registered at Kotwali police station under sections 70(1) (gang rape), 351(3) (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (acts committed by multiple persons) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The Maruti Suzuki Eeco used in the crime has been seized, and further investigation is underway.

Left-arm fast bowler Chetan Sakariya featured in his first domestic game in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Saurashtra after not having played a single game since his injury in 2024. The pacer shared his inspiring comeback story after having lost all hope for a return to cricket.

Injuries are the biggest woes in a sportsman’s life. For cricketers, especially bowlers, a blow to their bowling arm can almost draw curtains on their career. Indian left-arm bowling sensation Chetan Sakariya from Saurashtra also struggled with the same in the early days of his career.

However, he made his return and played for the Kolkata Knight Riders last season in the IPL and finally gathered courage and returned to domestic Indian cricket with the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season.

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Chetan Sakariya on comeback from career-ending wrist injury

Once considered one of the finest young talents from India, Chetan Sakariya was considered one of the future superstars of fast bowling from the nation. He came to fame after winning the Ranji Trophy with Saurashtra in 2020.

However, his career took several unexpected blows. The first blow came in the form of a personal tragedy, but the concerning blow that almost ended his career came with a left-wrist injury in February 2024. The impact of the injury was such that Sakariya felt it would end his playing career.

“When I got injured, I thought I would never come back,” Sakariya told news agency PTI. However, the bowler recently made his return and is taking small steps towards a full-fledged return to the game. “Now, I am feeling very good after playing in this domestic season, feel so good after bowling for Saurashtra,” said the cricketer.

“It was very mentally challenging for me. I didn’t believe that I would be able to play cricket again. Some doctors told me that I might not be able to grip the ball again,” he added.

Sakariya opens up on the toughest phase of life and the support extended by friends and family

However, the wrist injury was not the first time Sakariya’s career was affected. He had to deal with a major challenge back in 2021, when he endured a massive family tragedy. Both his father and brother died around the same time.

Chetan Sakariya has revealed that it was the toughest phase of his life, and he was very young during that time; however, the incidents taught him about resilience. “So at that time, if I hadn’t been a cricketer, I don’t think I would have been able to come back to life. Now, I feel that if any tough situation comes in my life again, I am prepared for it. I know what I have to do,” he said.

Sakariya also claimed that his friends and family were a massive support during that time. They backed him and pushed him to play further again, and hence he started to rehab under the guidance of the Saurashtra Cricket Association.

Chetan Sakariya extends special mention to the KKR coaches for his rehab and training

Chetan Sakariya, despite not having played a single match in the 2024-25 domestic season, found a spot in the Kolkata Knight Riders camp, as he was called in to replace an injured Umran Malik. He extended his thanks to Chandrakanth Pandit, the former head coach of KKR, for the belief in him and for aiding his rehab and training in the KKR camp.

He further added that the presence of Bharat Arun, the former India bowling coach, in the camp helped Chetan Sakariya improve his knowledge of the game.

“He helped me work on my rhythm and skills. He told me how to advance in modern cricket. After working with Bharat sir for two and a half months, I have improved a lot in my knowledge of bowling,” he explained.

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Draft rules released for public review

NEW DELHI: Gig and platform workers need to be engaged for at least 90 days with an aggregator within a financial year to avail social security benefits formulated under the new Social Security Code, draft rules released for public comment have proposed. For workers engaged with multiple aggregators, the threshold has been proposed at 120 days. The rules treat a worker as engaged from the day they start earning an income, regardless of the amount. If a worker is associated with multiple aggregators, their days of work will be counted cumulatively across all platforms. For example, if a gig or platform worker is engaged with three aggregators on a particular day, this will be counted as three days. The rules also clarified that an eligible gig or platform worker will include all such workers engaged by the aggregator directly or through an associate company, subsidiary or limited liability partnership or through a third party. The new labour codes mandate social security such as health, life and personal accident insurance for gig workers and other arrangements that govt may propose. Labour ministry has already started registering gig workers on ‘e-Shram’ portal and will be part of ‘Ayushman Bharat’. They may also be eligible for pension later based on contribution by both the platforms and gig workers. The rules said all gig workers above 16 years need to have Aadhaar-linked registration, with each aggregator sharing details of their gig and platform workers on Centre’s designated portal for generation of a universal account number, unless the worker is already registered. Every eligible registered gig and platform worker will be issued an identity card, digital or otherwise, the rules proposed. Besides, the draft notification has laid down the proposed composition of National Social Security Board, which will be responsible for assessing the number of gig workers and platform workers, identifying new types of aggregators and formulating welfare policies for them. The board will have five representatives nominated by govt from associations of unorganised sector workers and employers’ each. Gig workers will become ineligible for social security benefits once they turn 60, or if they haven’t worked for 90 days with an aggregator – or 120 days across multiple aggregators – in the previous fiscal.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has publicly backed Shubman Gill, linking the young batter’s rapid rise to a lesson he received early in his own international career from Rahul Dravid. Speaking on JioHotstar, Pathan recalled how Dravid prepared him for the demands of international cricket when he broke into the Indian team as a teenager.

“When I entered the Indian team at the age of 19, the great Rahul Dravid told me that you have come to the team, it is good, but the things would get tougher from here. I asked what to do in case things get tough. He told me you would get used to it,” Pathan said. Pathan believes the same process of adjustment and growth now applies to Gill, particularly after being handed leadership responsibilities at a young age. “Same can be said for Gill. He became captain, in that England series, he increased his average and authority within the team. Then he got the ODI captaincy, when that happens, you get an opportunity to grow a lot,” he added. Gill’s 2025 began steadily in the ODI format, with consistent returns in bilateral series before playing a key role in India’s ICC Champions Trophy triumph. He finished the tournament with 188 runs, highlighted by a century against Bangladesh. The defining phase of Gill’s year, however, came during his first full Test tour of England. With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin unavailable, the burden of leadership fell heavily on the young Test captain. Gill responded with a historic series, scoring 754 runs in five Tests at an average of 75.40, including four centuries and a career-best 269. Pathan also addressed the weight of comparisons that follow elite Indian batters across generations. “He has a lot of talent. There will be always comparisons. Virat was compared with Sachin (Tendulkar), and now Gill is being compared to Virat, who has scored those 25,000–30,000 runs. I think he is fully capable of it. He has a fine range of shots,” Pathan said. Gill’s only notable setback came in T20 internationals, where a run of modest returns saw him score 291 runs in 15 innings at an average just over 24 in 2025, eventually missing out on selection for India’s T20 World Cup squad. Pathan views that phase as part of a broader learning curve. “The more responsibility and challenges he gets, he will grow more as a cricketer. I have seen that he is always ready for cricket. Always willing to learn. He has that attitude in him,” he said.

Mumbai: Vakola police have booked a 25-year-old mother of two for allegedly slashing her lover’s private parts with a sharp weapon after he refused to leave his wife and marry her. The incident took place after the New Year celebrations at her Santacruz residence in the wee hours of Thursday.The 42-year-old victim is the brother of the accused’s sister-in-law and they have been in an extramarital affair for seven years, said police. The woman, who has two children aged four and seven, is on the run.The victim was initially rushed to the nearby V N Desai Hospital, and later referred to Sion Hospital where he was immediately taken for surgery. “Our urology and general surgery teams operated on him soon after he was brought to hospital. He is recovering right now,” said Sion Hospital dean Dr Pramod Ingale.Police said the accused had wanted to marry the victim, but he refused to leave his wife and children. When his wife found out about their relationship, she started quarrelling with him. In his police complaint, the victim said that he then asked the accused to “understand the situation”. The accused then left for her hometown in Bihar, but returned a month later, on Dec 19.On Dec 24, the victim once again “tried to make her understand the siutation” as both had children and families, he told the police.Around 1.30am on Jan 1, the accused invited him to her residence “to have sweets” to celebrate the New Year. “When the victim tried to leave, she allegedly used a sharp object to slash his private parts even while her two children were sleeping in the room,” said a police officer.The victim, who was bleeding profusely, managed to escape and alerted his son and brother who rushed him to V N Desai Hospital. “Even when she was in Bihar, she would threaten him over the phone,” said the officer.Police have formed a team to nab the accused, who has been booked under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for causing grievous hurt by dangerous means and criminal intimidation.

Mumbai: BEST bus drivers involved in accidents could be temporarily assigned alternative duties as a sensitisation measure to reinforce passenger safety awareness and accountability, undertaking’s general manager Sonia Sethi instructed the personnel department following the Dec 29 Bhandup mishap, where an AC electric bus rammed into pedestrains, killing four and injuring 10. Sethi’s directives apply to all electric bus drivers, including BEST on-roll and wet-lease operator drivers, who also have to undergo mandatory refresher and skill-upgrade training with immediate effect. The training focuses on defensive driving, safe handling of EV buses, speed regulation, braking behaviour, and overall road safety practices, an official said.BEST also undertook a comprehensive review of driver service records. Drivers with a history of default, repeated violations, or prior suspension were to be withdrawn from active driving duties forthwith and not deployed until further review and clearance as per norms.“A mobile driver training vehicle will be integrated into the training programme to cover all 27 BEST depots, to ensure uniform dissemination of safety practices and on-site sensitisation of drivers,” the official said.Officials said supervisors will conduct structured counselling sessions, with clear instructions on standard operating procedures. Drivers were directed to halt properly at designated stops and wait until the last passenger boarded safely before moving. An official said that passenger safety and pedestrian safety come before schedule pressure.Alongside operational checks, the counselling programme will also address driver wellbeing. Every driver will receive guidance, and any psychological or stress-related issues flagged during interactions will be handled through appropriate support.However, the safety push comes amid continuing operational strain. BEST’s own bus fleet dropped to 249, while wet-lease buses stand at 2,495. Driver shortage remains a challenge, with some contractual buses now being operated by full-time BEST drivers. In the Bhandup incident, the driver was provided by BEST to a private contractor operating the midi bus involved in the mishap.

GURUGRAM: Haryana’s annual sex ratio at birth (SRB), the number of girls born per 1,000 boys, climbed to 923 in 2025, the first time it has showed a gain since 2019.Alarm bells rang last year after it fell to 910, its lowest since 2016 when the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign was launched as a social campaign in a state with one of the lowest sex ratios in the country because of female infanticide.According to Civil Registration System (provisional) figures, the state registered 5,19,691 births last year, of which 2,70,281 were boys and 2,49,410 girls. Three districts reported an SRB of 950 or above, with Panchkula leading the state at 971, followed by Fatehabad (961) and Panipat (951).South Haryana districts like Gurgaon showed significant lag in SRBKarnal (944) and Yamunanagar (943) complete the top five. Sirsa (937), Nuh (935), Kurukshetra (927), Ambala (926), Hisar (926), Bhiwani (926) and Kaithal (924) were also above the state average.Health officials attributed the improvement to a series of crackdowns through 2025 against sex-selective abortions and sale of illegal medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kits. An SRB of 923 is still low compared to other states but it’s the highest Haryana has achieved. Over the years, the annual average has fluctuated, rather than held steady.South Haryana districts around Delhi, including Gurgaon (901), showed significant lag. Faridabad (916), Rohtak (898) and Sonipat (894) were among the weakest performers. Rewari (882) was placed at the bottom.Panchkula saw the most notable long-term improvement, from 909 in 2015 to 971 in 2025, despite dips in between, including a fall to 915 in 2024. Fatehabad, which was at 893 in 2015, climbed to 961 last year as did Panipat, which was at 892 in 2015. Gurgaon, despite its weaker performance compared to these districts, also saw an improvement from 858 in 2015.After the fall in SRB in 2024, a state-level task force was set up in March, with officers from health department, police, women and child development, AYUSH, National Health Mission (NHM) and the Food and Drug Administration reviewing SRB weekly.“A total of 114 FIRs were registered under MTP Act and 16 under PCPNDT (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques) Act in 2025. Ultrasound inspections nearly doubled from 3,072 in 2024 to 5,836 in 2025. Reverse tracking of abortions beyond 12 weeks among women with previous girl children was a key tool. From Oct 2024 to Dec 2025, 3,292 such abortions were reported through Asha workers, leading to 68 FIRs against clinics, chemists, peddlers and middlemen,” said Dr Virender Yadav, director of NHM, Haryana.Crackdowns on abortion kit sales intensified. FDA sealed 44 chemist shops last year and registered 59 FIRs, including 17 for online sales. More than 6,000 kits were seized. The number of abortions carried out beyond 10 weeks fell from 21,498 in 2024 to 14,204 in 2025. A total of 495 of the state’s 1,500 registered MTP centres were shut for violations.

Expect buzz, emotion and box-office momentum in 2026 from Bengali cinema. With sequels, franchise favourites, real-life narratives & fresh stories in the pipeline, the slate brings star power, new talent and moving talesKeu Bole Biplobi Keu Bole DakatDirector: Pathikrit BasuCast: Jeet, Tota Roy ChoudhurySynopsis: The film marks Jeet’s return with a character-driven narrative. It explores the duality of Ananta Singh – a revolutionary to some, an outlaw to others – through themes of justice, rebellion and moral ambiguity. Weaving Ananta’s freedom-fighter past with a crusade against corruption, the film has the tone of an emotional journey that questions power and ethics in changing times.Bike Ambulance DadaDirector: Vinay MudgilCast: Dev, other cast members yet to be announcedSynopsis: Inspired by the life of Padma Shri Karimul Haque, the film sees Dev stepping into Karimul’s shoes. The story follows Haque’s work supporting the villagers in and around Dhalabari by bringing sick people to hospital in his motorcycle ambulance. Dev’s performance is expected to balance realism with presence, telling the story of Karimul’s struggles, sacrifices and heroism.

Vijaynagar’er HireyDirector: Chandrasish RayCast: Prosenjit Chatterjee, Aryann Bhowmik, Pushan Dasgupta, Satyam Bhattacharya and Sreya BhattacharyyaSynopsis: The third instalment of the Kakababu series is coming back after four years, raising the stakes with a mystery set in Hampi. Blending suspense, intellect and emotion, the film also marks Chandrasish’s entry as a director in the franchise.

Saptadingar GuptodhonDirector: Dhrubo BanerjeeCast: Abir Chatterjee, Ishaa Saha, Arjun ChakrabartySynopsis: The fourth instalment of the Guptodhon franchise marks Sona Da’s return after 2022. The film returns with the original cast and this time is set to have a more suspenseful tone. The story will showcase themes of treasure hunting, escaping the villain, chasing hidden clues and sniffing out a high-stakes adventure. It promises to blend mystery, action and intrigue for all the franchise fans.

Bhanupriya Bhooter Hotel Director: Aritra MukherjeeCast: Mimi Chakraborty, Soham Mojumdar, Bonny Sengupta, Swastika DuttaSynopsis: Set inside a haunted hotel inspired by a colonial-era homestay in Kalimpong, this horror-comedy is rooted in the supernatural. The film will also reflect on the human mind, exploring fear, connection, and the absurdities of life through laughter and suspense. The narrative promises to be chaotic, funny and with a feel-good plot.

Hok Kolorob Director: Raj ChakrabartyCast: Saswata Chatterjee, John Batyacharyya, Om Sahani, Rohaan BhattacharjeeSynopsis: This film marks a bold return to a subject that once stirred intense public discourse, exploring student politics, rebellion, hope, and identity through a contemporary lens. With a gripping mix of emotion and suspense, a host of fresh talent is set to bring energy and authenticity to the screen, complemented by a multi-composer music line-up.Screen presence: the unmissable films of ’26KorpurDirector: Arindam SilCast: Rituparna Sengupta, Bratya Basu, Lahoma Bhattacharya and Arpan GhoshalSynopsis: With Rituparna and Bratya as leads, the film is set to be a political thriller loosely based on the disappearance of Manisha Mukherjee, the deputy controller of examination of Calcutta University. The film will also explore a murder mystery spanning a decade involving an education scam in the city, all while blending historical timelines of 1997 and 2019. The film also marks the fresh pairing of Lahoma and Arpan.

Mon Maaney Na Director: Rahool MukherjeeCast: Ritwik Bhowmik, Hiya Chatterjee & Soumya MukherjeeSynopsis: The film marks Hiya and Ritwik’s Tollywood debut. The story follows a carefree man confronted by his true feelings during his best friend’s wedding. This love triangle has an emotionally layered yet contemporary narrative, bringing relatability and an unconventional take on love to the screen.

Ajo Ardhangini Director: Kaushik GangulyCast: Jaya Ahsan, Churni Ganguly, Kaushik SenSynopsis: Sequel to the 2023 film, Ardhangini, the film carries the emotionally charged story forward. The story picks up after 1.5 years, and revisits themes of love, identity, and unresolved relationships, while unveiling a deeper truth that remained untold earlier. With the same lead characters, the addition of a pivotal new character, the film promises a fresh emotional conflict making the narrative more layered. This film blends continuity with new tension — offering a tale that takes the audience through the characters’ turmoils.Emperor Vs Sarat Chandra Director: Srijit MukherjiCast: Abir Chatterjee, Mimi Chakraborty, Rudranil Ghosh, Kanchan Mullick, Divyani MondalSynopsis: Set against the charged political climate of 1926, the film revisits the legacy of Pather Dabi — a work that once shook the foundations of colonial authority and stirred public conscience. By weaving historical context with the spirit of resistance that led to the novel’s ban, the narrative is shaped by a compelling exploration of dissent, identity, and ideological struggle. This period drama will also see director Srijit Mukherji set into the role of a music composer.

Phool Pishi O EdwardDirector: Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad MukherjeeCast: Sohini Sengupta, Raima Sen, Arjun Chakrabarty, Koneenica BanerjeeSynopsis: Set inside a guarded royal household where inheritance, memory and silence hold dangerous power, the film draws viewers into a mysterious world where every relationship in the narrative guards a secret. With a strong ensemble cast, the film is set to tell a gripping tale that slowly peels back layers of the past, exposing how its shadows continue to shape the present.Sources say that Khadaan 2 & the sequel to Bohurupi are also in the pipeline