LUCKNOW: A 19-year-old youth shot his father, a pathology lab owner, dismembered the body and hid parts in a blue drum at their residence in Aashiana, police said on Monday. He later confessed to police that he killed his father after he was pressuring him to crack the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET).

The teen himself had lodged a missing person complaint after his 49-year-old father went missing on Feb 20. However, while he was going to dispose the torso on Monday evening, a police patrol stopped him because of his suspicious activity. After prolonged questioning he confessed.Also read: Liquor shop job, NEET pressure, then bloodshed: Why teen shot bizman father; dark secrets spill outAccording to police, the incident took place around 4:30 am on Feb 20 following a heated argument, allegedly over pressure to crack the NEET. In a fit of rage, Akshat used a licensed rifle to shoot his father. He then dragged the body from the third floor to the ground floor, where he dismembered it. Thereafter, he loaded some parts into his car and drove to Sadrauna, a remote area, where he dumped them, including the head, which is yet to be found. The remaining torso was stuffed into a plastic drum, hidden in the same room. Akshat planned to dispose it later but was accidentally caught by cops patrolling in the area before he could do so. “He was in the process of getting rid of the body part when we intervened,” a police source revealed.“His inconsistent statements raised red flags. Strict interrogation led to his confession,” said DCP Central Zone, Vikrant Vir.On Monday evening, officers raided the home with Akshat in custody and recovered the drum containing the mutilated remains.Forensic experts are examining bloodstains in the car and house, while teams are searching Sadrauna for the missing parts.Police said the accused shot his father in front of his sister and threatened her to remain silent. Forensic teams are examining the scene, and efforts are underway to recover the remaining body parts and establish the full sequence of events.Police said that the boy was also in charge of a liquor store run by his father and was given Rs 17,000 as a monthly salary, but he was not happy.A senior officer privy to the probe revealed that cops recovered a ricochet bullet from the room where the shooting took place. The rifle and the bullet were sent for forensic examination.The victim was originally a resident of Jalaun district. His father is a retired cop. His wife passed away nine years ago. Police say that the boy scored well in class XII and his father wanted him to crack the NEET.The family comprised a son and a daughter, who is a class 11 student. His younger brother is also serving in UP Police and is posted at the secretariat.

With India’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign hanging in the balance, former head coach Ravi Shastri has suggested a bold tactical rethink for the upcoming Super 8 encounter against Zimbabwe. After the heavy defeat to South Africa, Shastri believes India must strengthen their bowling resources — even if it means sacrificing a specialist batter like Rinku Singh.

India are in a must-win situation, and according to Shastri, flexibility and depth in bowling could make the difference between survival and elimination.

Ravi Shastri backs two-spinner strategy for Zimbabwe clash

Speaking to the ICC, Shastri emphasized the importance of having an additional bowling option in T20 cricket, particularly in high-pressure matches.

“I would say play both. Give yourself that extra option because on a given day, you’re bound to have one bowler who’s going to have an off-day,” Shastri explained.

His remarks were in reference to India’s spin department, particularly after Varun Chakaravarthy struggled to make an impact against South Africa. The mystery spinner was not at his best and ended up conceding crucial runs — something Shastri believes could have been mitigated with stronger bowling cover.

In modern T20 cricket, where margins are razor-thin, one bowler having an off day can tilt the entire contest. Shastri’s solution is simple: build insurance into the playing XI.

Also READ: 2007 reloaded? Here’s how Team India’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign mirrors a legendary comeback

Shastri hints at Rinku Singh’s exclusion

However, adding an extra bowler comes at a cost. Shastri hinted that Rinku might have to sit out if India choose to strengthen their bowling attack.

“Which means Rinku Singh might have to miss out. But if he has to come in, he has to come in place of a specialist batter,” Shastri stated.

India’s middle order already boasts significant firepower with Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Washington Sundar likely occupying the No. 5, 6, and 7 slots. With Axar Patel also capable of batting higher up the order, Shastri believes India already possess enough depth in their batting lineup.

“If Axar Patel is playing, he might be batting at 8. You’ve got Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Washington Sundar at 5, 6, and 7. And Axar can go at 5 as well. Now, if eight batters can’t do the job in T20 cricket, then you know something is wrong,” he added.

His message was clear — India’s issue is not lack of batting power, but insufficient bowling options.

India’s defeat to South Africa exposed cracks in both bowling execution and tactical balance. With a poor Net Run Rate and zero points in the Super 8 stage, the margin for error is virtually non-existent. Zimbabwe could play fearless cricket without scoreboard pressure. That unpredictability makes tactical preparation even more crucial.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Sahibzada Farhan opens up on chasing Virat Kohli’s iconic world record

NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday rolled out a series of stringent measures, citing a “recent surge in aviation incidents.”The enhanced safety directives were announced after a high-level meeting between the aviation regulator and Non-Scheduled Operators (NSOPs). The review came a day after an air ambulance en route to Delhi crashed in Jharkhand, killing all seven people on board, and nearly a month after a fatal crash involving a private aircraft carrying then Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on January 28.“The regulator emphasized that safety must remain the absolute priority, superseding all commercial operations, charter commitments, or VIP movements. The authority asserted that an organization’s leadership must prioritize safety above all other criteria. To support this, the authority reaffirmed that the Pilot-in-Command’s decision to divert, delay or cancel a flight for safety reasons is final and must be respected by operators without commercial consequences,” the DGCA said in a statement.It announced the following safety measures, to be implemented with immediate effect:

According to the DGCA, these guidelines constitute “phase 1” of a special safety audit of non-scheduled operators. The first phase is expected to be completed in early March, after which a second phase will be undertaken.DGCA on Ajit Pawar plane crashMeanwhile, the DGCA also announced that, following a safety audit of Delhi-based VSR Ventures Private Limited — which operated the Learjet involved in Pawar’s ill-fated flight — it is grounding the Learjet fleet with immediate effect.“The multi-disciplinary audit team observed several non-compliances of approved procedures in the organisation (VSR) in the area of airworthiness, air safety, and flight operations. In view of the non-compliances, it is decided to initiate the corrective measures by immediately grounding Learjet 40/45 aircraft with registration VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV, and VT-TRI till continued airworthiness standards are restored,” the body noted in a separate statement.Pawar was flying from Mumbai to his hometown of Baramati, a short journey, when the plane crashed and burst into flames near Baramati airport. His personal security officer, the two pilots, and a flight attendant also lost their lives, leaving no survivors.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal and Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Photo credit- PTI)

India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have formally launched negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) after signing a joint statement aimed at deepening trade and investment ties between the two sides, a government statement said.The joint statement was signed by Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and GCC secretary general Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi in New Delhi, marking the formal start of negotiations for a “comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement”.Goyal said the joint statement, along with the Terms of Reference (ToR) signed earlier, marks “a significant milestone in the relationship between India and GCC countries”. He added that ties rooted in shared history and cultural linkages would receive fresh momentum through a broad-based FTA.He underlined that “amidst global uncertainties, it is most opportune that discussions are starting on negotiating a robust trading arrangement which would harness mutual synergies and complementarities,” according to the cabinet statement.Albudaiwi said the proposed agreement would serve as “an important tool to further strengthen trade and investment ties between India and GCC countries by infusing predictability and certainty for businesses”.The GCC remains India’s largest trading partner bloc, with bilateral trade reaching $178.56 billion in FY 2024-25, including exports worth $56.87 billion and imports of $121.68 billion, accounting for 15.42% of India’s global trade. Trade between the two sides has grown at an average annual rate of 15.3% over the past five years.India’s key exports to GCC countries include engineering goods, rice, textiles, machinery, and gems and jewellery, while imports are dominated by crude oil, LNG, petrochemicals and precious metals such as gold.Collectively, GCC economies represent a market of about 61.5 million people and a combined GDP of $2.3 trillion at current prices, ranking ninth globally. The region is also a major source of foreign investment for India, with cumulative FDI exceeding $31.14 billion as of September 2025.Nearly 10 million Indian nationals live across GCC countries, forming what officials described as a “living bridge” strengthening economic and people-to-people ties, alongside the strong presence of Indian companies across the region.