NIA conducts searches at the Lucknow residence of arrested woman doc Shaheen Shahid

LUCKNOW: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday widened its probe into a “white-collar” terror financing and radicalisation network linked to the November 10 car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, conducting coordinated searches across Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh — including the Lucknow residence of former medical college faculty member Dr Shaheen Shahid, now arrested and in custody of NIA. Lucknow search: family under scannerIn Lucknow, NIA searched Shaheen’s Lalbagh residence where her father and one of her brothers continue to live; another brother, also a doctor, has been detained for questioning.

It is for the first time that NIA has conducted searches at residence of Dr Shaheen Shahid in Lucknow.Shaheen was earlier arrested after a Russian rifle and ammunition were recovered from a car registered in her name, allegedly used by Muzammil.Investigators allege she funnelled Rs 27–28 lakh into the module, including Rs 6.5 lakh for weapons and Rs 3 lakh for a vehicle, though she claims the money was given as zakat. Agencies also assert she was the only woman in the Faridabad JeM module and was in contact with Afira Biwi, wife of Pulwama attack mastermind Umar Farooq, and had discussed a plan to target six Indian cities on December 6 as “revenge for Babri Masjid”.A topper turned terror accusedBorn and raised in Kaiserbagh, the 46-year-old pharmacology specialist Shaheen also known as ‘Madam Surgeon’ had an impeccable academic run — topping her Class 10 and 12 boards, completing MBBS and MD from the government medical college in Prayagraj, and securing a UPPSC rank to join GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, as an assistant professor in 2006.Her trajectory reportedly plunged after 2013, when she abruptly stopped reporting for duty. All official communication failed, and she was terminated in 2021. During these undocumented years, investigators claim she drifted toward radical elements while associated with Al-Falah University, where she allegedly grew close to Dr Muzammil, suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative whom she married in 2023.Dr Shaheen Shahid was allegedly heading the India wing of Jamaat-ul-Mominaat which is the women’s wing of Jaish-e-Muhammad.NIA teams carried out searches at eight locations in Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam. In Shopian, officers raided the home of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad Vagay, who has emerged as the alleged mastermind responsible for radicalisation and recruitment in the network. Vagay is currently under NIA custody in connection with the Red Fort blast that killed 15 people.In Pulwama, searches were conducted in Koil, Chandgam, Malangpora and Sambura, all linked to suspects connected to the Delhi blast.Simultaneously, NIA searched the residence of Dr Aadil Ahmad Rather in Saharanpur, arrested earlier this month, as part of efforts to map the financial and operational web of the module.A white-collar terror modelOfficials describe the network as a new breed of “white-collar” terror module — educated professionals who raise funds through financial fraud, laundering and legitimate-looking transactions, making detection far more complex.With raids now stretching from Kashmir to Uttar Pradesh, investigators say the focus is on identifying the module’s handlers, mapping the funnel of funds, and establishing how radicalisation and operational planning were executed by individuals with professional backgrounds.The raids come after a Delhi court on Saturday extended the National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody of four accused, including Dr Shaheen Shahid, Dr Muzammil Shakeel, Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay, and Dr Adeel Ahmed Rather in the Delhi blast case for another 10 days after it sought more time for investigation.Even before the blast, several arrests had been made across multiple states, and investigators had begun to piece together evidence of an interstate terror module.Following the explosion, the NIA found that the incident was connected to earlier arrests, leading to a series of new revelations as the probe deepened.The NIA has so far arrested seven individuals in connection with the blast involving a Hyundai i20 driven by Dr Umar Muhammad, which exploded near the Lal Qila Metro station.

US President Donald Trump delivered a blunt ultimatum to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a recent phone call, telling him, “You can save yourself and those closest to you, but you must leave the country now,” according to the Miami Herald.The United States reportedly offered safe passage for Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, and their son if he agreed to depart immediately. The offer was also said to extend to several top allies. However, Caracas refused to accept the conditions, prompting the talks to collapse.Also read | ‘Wouldn’t say it went well or badly’: Trump confirms call with Maduro; comes as US steps up pressure on VenezuelaUS President Donald Trump on Sunday acknowledged that he had recently spoken with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro but refused to give details. Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly.” His guarded comments came after he publicly warned that Venezuelan airspace should be considered “closed in its entirety,” a declaration made hours after the failed exchange amid rising tensions and after the US sent major military assets to the Caribbean, adding to its tense standoff with Caracas.According to the Miami Herald, the call, held late in the week of November 16, stalled when Maduro sought two guarantees — global amnesty for himself and senior members of his circle, and the right to retain command of Venezuela’s armed forces even if he allowed free elections. The paper quoted a source familiar with the call saying, “First, Maduro asked for global amnesty for any crimes he and his group had committed, and that was rejected. Second, they asked to retain control of the armed forces … In return, they would allow free elections.” Washington reportedly dismissed both proposals and instead demanded that Maduro step down at once. Maduro government attempted to arrange another call with Washington but received no response. A defense expert familiar with Venezuela’s military and state-linked cartel networks warned that Maduro and key figures in his regime could now be facing their most serious threat yet.Also read | ‘Closed in its entirety’: Trump orders complete shutdown of Venezuelan airspace; tensions rise amid anti-drug opsFollowing the breakdown, Trump sharply escalated pressure on Venezuela. He warned that US military operations “by land” could begin “very soon” and ordered aircraft to avoid Venezuelan airspace. A FlightRadar24 map later showed no international aircraft flying over the country. Flights to Aruba and Curaçao took longer alternative routes, and major airlines halted services after a Federal Aviation Administration warning about “heightened military activity.” Venezuela retaliated by revoking the operating rights of several foreign carriers and accused Washington of “colonial aggression.”US politicians have defended the administration’s stance. Senator Dave McCormick told Fox News Sunday, “We have a war that’s coming through fentanyl, through opioids, through cocaine,” blaming Venezuela for fuelling a drug crisis that “killed 100,000 Americans last year.” The administration has intensified maritime strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, actions critics have described as extrajudicial. Congressional inquiries are under way into an alleged “double tap” strike near Trinidad, which US secretary of war Pete Hegseth has denied ordering.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

RANCHI: Studies have shown that couples often tend to resemble each other in a long-standing relationship. And 102 innings together, spanning over 15 years scoring 5619 runs with 20 century stands and 17 half-century partnerships, is indeed long enough.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!So, when an animated Rohit Sharma applauded Virat Kohli’s record-extending 52nd ODI ton here on Sunday with a few choice expletives which would be a delight for lip-readers, it looked like some of his longtime partner’s characteristics had rubbed off on him after all these years. Characteristically, the Mumbai man is famous for his cool and relaxed attitude on and off the field, while King Kohli is known for wearing his heart on his sleeve. On Sunday, it was as if Rohit was completing Kohli’s sentences.

If you paused to regard the emotion Rohit laid bare in those few seconds, it becomes evident that the Hitman is making a statement for both the veterans of the format. That Ro-Ko is clearly here to stay on their own despite all the murmurs of their ODI retirement plans. While Kohli notched up his 83rd international ton at JSCA International Stadium, Rohit scored a 51-ball 57 with five boundaries and three maximums.In the process, the former India captain went atop the list of batters with most number sixes in ODIs — 352. The duo is now third on the list of highest overall partnership runs by a pair in ODIs, behind only Sourav Ganguly-Sachin Tendulkar (8227 runs) and Mahela Jayawardene-Kumar Sangakkara (5992). Ro-Ko surpassed another Sri Lankan pair of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sangakkara on Sunday. With the 50-over World Cup in South Africa in two year’s time, the two of the all-time greats once again showed why they are still invaluable in the ODI set-up along with other seniors in the side.

While stand-in skipper KL Rahul scored a 56-ball 60 at No. 6, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja proved his worth down the order with 32 off 20 balls. However, the players looking to break into the XI or trying to cement their place failed to utilise the opportunities coming their way due to the unavailability of regulars like Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer in the lineup.Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (18) flattered to deceive after a brisk start; Ruturaj (8) failed at No. 4 while allrounder Washington Sundar, who came at No. 5 ahead of Rahul, returned after scoring only 13. Though the Maharashtra opener had to bat in the middle order leaving his regular slot, it was Gaikwad’s fourth consecutive sub-10 score in ODIs.

The onus was on the senior pros to give their bowling unit a big total to defend. Rohit has publicly talked about his desire to play the 2027 World Cup after the final heartbreak at home in 2023. Shedding 10 kilos ahead of the Australia tour in Oct and looking fitter than ever, Rohit’s intention is quite clear.Kohli, with 49 runs of his 135 coming by running between the wickets on Sunday – and 42 of those being singles – is as fit as ever and conducted a fine class on how to build an ODI innings. Despite all the noise and chatter swirling around, the ODI batting greats of India are still carrying responsibility with aplomb.

LUCKNOW: The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Etawah has booked train ticket examiner (TTE) Santosh Kumar for culpable homicide not amounting to murder after Arti Yadav, 30, wife of an Indian Navy chief petty officer, was found dead along the tracks between Samhon and Bharthana stations on November 26.According to the FIR, Arti had mistakenly boarded the wrong train from Kanpur Central while traveling to New Delhi for a medical consultation at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral). She was scheduled to take the Barauni–New Delhi Clone Special (02563) on Tuesday night, but the train was delayed by over 10 hours. In confusion, she boarded the Patna–Anand Vihar Terminal Special Fare Special (04089) on Wednesday morning.Her father, Anil Kumar, alleged in the FIR that Arti boarded coach S-11 and was confronted by TTE Santosh Kumar over her reserved ticket. Witnesses in the coach, including Raj Vaibhav from Ghaziabad, claimed the TTE threw her luggage out and pushed her off the train. Arti’s body was later found nearly 4 km from her belongingsSpeaking to TOI, Ajay Yadav, Arti’s husband, said, “Just three days before her death, Arti had returned to her parents’ home in Kanpur from Mumbai, where I’m posted. She planned to visit the Army hospital in Delhi for consultation. My father, Bhagwan Singh, was the first to receive the call about her death.” Married in February 2020, the couple was childless. At the time of the incident, Ajay was in Chennai for naval training.However, GRP officials have not arrested the TTE yet. Circle Officer Etawah GRP, Udai Pratap Singh, said, “Prima facie, it appears the victim jumped off the train, but we are probing the matter and recording statements of co-passengers.”Anil Kumar dismissed the CO’s claim, calling it an attempt to shield the accused TTE. “Why didn’t the TTE stop the train or seek medical help? What’s the purpose of the alarm chain in the train coaches? Even after reaching Etawah Junction, which is 30 km from Samhon station, the train continued its journey. My daughter was murdered, and authorities are trying to protect their image,” he alleged.Meanwhile, North Central Railway’s chief public relations officer, Shashikant Tripathi, confirmed, “The TTE Santosh Kumar is still on active duty. An FIR has been lodged, and GRP is investigating.”The accused TTE, Santosh Kumar, is posted at Prayagraj NCR’s headquarters.

The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2025 season heats up as Hobart Hurricanes Women (HH-W) prepare to take on Melbourne Stars Women (MS-W) in Match 32 at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Monday, December 1. This fixture features the current table-toppers squaring off against the second-placed contenders, making it a crucial battle in the race for playoff qualification.

The Hurricanes enter the contest with strong momentum, having secured six wins from their first eight matches. They have particularly excelled on home soil, claiming four victories in five outings in Hobart. Their recent performances have highlighted a powerful batting lineup where Lizelle Lee and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge continue to dominate opposition attacks and consistently rank among the top run-getters of the competition. Skipper Nicola Carey adds further value with her reliable all-round skills, while Heather Graham’s wicket-taking brilliance has made her one of the most dangerous bowlers this season.

On the other side, Melbourne Stars remain firm challengers, winning five of their first seven games. They come into this match riding a confident four-match winning streak, showcasing excellent form at a crucial stage of the tournament. Meg Lanning has led their charge with the bat, amassing 301 runs in just five innings to sit comfortably as the leading run-scorer of WBBL|11. Their squad also benefits greatly from the presence of Annabel Sutherland, whose leadership and all-round ability bring balance, while Marizanne Kapp continues to provide match-winning performances with bat and ball.

HH-W vs MS-W, WBBL|11: Match details

• Date and Time: December 1; 01:40 pm IST/ 08:10 am GMT/ 07:10 pm Local
• Venue: Bellerive Oval, Hobart

HH-W vs MS-W, Head-to-Head Record in WBBL

Matches played: 22 | Hobart Hurricanes won: 13 | Melbourne Stars won: 08 | No result: 01

Bellerive Oval Pitch Report

The Bellerive Oval pitch typically offers a solid batting track, beginning with some help for seamers thanks to the new ball before settling into a more batter-friendly surface as the match unfolds. Pacers can extract early movement, though spinners generally play a smaller role, with the wicket eventually slowing into a balanced, predictable strip that gradually tilts in favour of the batters.

Squads

Melbourne Stars Women: Meg Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Amy Jones (wk), Annabel Sutherland (c), Marizanne Kapp, Kim Garth, Sasha Moloney, Georgia Prestwidge, Maisy Gibson, Sophie Day, Ella Hayward, Sophie Reid

Hobart Hurricanes Women: Lizelle Lee (wk), Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Nicola Carey, Elyse Villani (c), Heather Graham, Rachel Trenaman, Hayley Silver-holmes, Molly Strano, Lauren Smith, Linsey Smith, Ruth Johnston, Callie Wilson, Kathryn Bryce

Also READ: WBBL|11 – Adelaide Strikers edge past Brisbane Heat in final-over Thriller; Ellyse Perry helps Sydney Sixers dominate Thunder in the derby clash

HH-W vs MS-W, WBBL|11: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• Hobart Hurricanes Women wins the toss and bowls first
• Melbourne Stars Women’s powerplay score: 40-50
• Melbourne Stars Women’s total score: 160-170

Case 2:

• Melbourne Stars Women wins the toss and bowls first
• Hobart Hurricanes Women’s powerplay score: 30-50
• Hobart Hurricanes Women’s total score: 150-160

Match result: Hobart Hurricanes Women to win the game.

Also READ: Lauren Bell reacts after becoming the most expensive buy for RCB in WPL 2026 Auction

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

MUMBAI: The political journey of S Ward, which covers Bhandup, Kanjurmarg and Vikhroli, reflects a dramatic left-toright swing over the past four decades. Once a bastion of Communist influence in the late 1970s, the constituency gradually moved towards the Congress in the 1980s before decisively tilting to the right with the rise of Shiv Sena in the post-1990 era. Today, shaped by its predominantly Marathispeaking electorate and Sena’s deep grassroots network, the ward stands as a saffron stronghold. Yet this ideological consolidation has brought little relief on the ground. The identity-driven, Marathi-majority base may have ensured stable electoral gains for Sena, but chronic civic and environmental distress continues to define daily life: uneven and perpetually dug-up roads, decade-long delays in infrastructure such as the Bhandup ROB, worsening air pollution amid rapid construction, untreated garbage and mangrove loss near the Kanjur dumping ground, and routine monsoon flooding caused by choked drains. Water scarcity, inadequate health facilities, and stalled redevelopment underscore the widening governance gap. As a result, the ward’s political transformation has delivered predictability at the polls but not improvements in lived experience -fuelling rising frustration and asurge in activism.

In the 2017 municipal polls, the undivided Sena won eight of the ward’s 14 seats. In the 2024 general election, Sanjay Dina Patil of Sena (UBT) was elected MP, while sitting MLA Sunil Raut — brother of Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut — completed a hat-trick by winning the Vikhroli assembly seat. The Bhandup assembly seat was retained by Sena’s Ashok Patil, a loyalist of deputy CM Eknath Shinde.Even as political parties vie for influence, residents and activists say the ward is grappling with deepening civic and environmental issues. Snehal Basrur, a member of KanjurBhandup Clean ALM, flagged concerns over indiscriminate tree-cutting along LBS Marg, where at least 60 roadside trees were removed for Metro construction. Officials have promised compensatory plantation elsewhere, but Basrur argued that roadside greening is essential on the heavy-traffic artery and that existing trees were not handled with care. She has repeatedly sought improvements in air quality over the past three years, citing dust from continuous construction, rising respiratory ailments and AQI levels touching 250. She demanded action against those responsible for dust and pollution. A civic activist described many pavements as “the worst”, pointing to broken surfaces, protruding manhole covers and uneven stretches that put pedestrians at risk. Local resident and ALM core member Shirish Daudkhane said, “We have petitioned BMC for an urgent review and acceleration of the Bhandup ROB project, pending for a decade. It is essential that infrastructure projects account for projected traffic growth up to 2035-2050. Unfortunately, the present design does not reflect this.” He said that over a lakh PAPs were proposed to be resettled on the Bhandup-Kanjurmarg (East) saltpan lands, which wouldadd to east-west traffic.Environmentalist D Stalin raised alarms about rapid encroachment on saltpan land. “The dumping ground at Kanjurmarg (East) is not treated properly, and garbage is left to rot in the open. This gives rise to odour, which is a major issue and affects the health of those living in the neighbourhood and even at far-off places like Bhandup and Vikhroli (Kannamwar Nagar) who suffer from the stench. Garbage is also dumped on mangroves,which are being destroyed,” he said.Daudkhane said, “Traffic congestion is a regular issue. The road is not of uniform width in this constituency, and roads are dug at many places. LBS Marg is a bad stretch with uneven roads and causes traffic jams daily. A few societies have planned not to pay taxes for a year and get the roads repaired on their own.” Another local activist said stormwater drains and original drain lines lack adequate slopes, leadingto flooding in Bhandup village every monsoon due to choked drains. According to legislator Ashok Patil, Sena had promised in its last assembly manifesto to address concerns such as water scarcity — particularly in the hilly parts of Bhandup — inadequate health facilities and the need for urgent SRA redevelopment for slum pockets. Locals say MP Sanjay Patil has assured voters that if Sena (UBT) comes to power in the BMC, it will protect their interests.