DEHRADUN: The post-mortem report of 24-year-old Tripura youth Anjel Chakma, who was killed in Dehradun on Dec 9, 2025, points to a brutal battering inflicted on the MBA student, with injuries to the head, possibly by a kada, being the cause of death. TOI accessed a copy of the report on Friday, which mentions “13 stitches on the right side of neck of 12.5 cm length, three stitches on right side of lower back of 3 cm in length, and one stitch of 1 cm length on the right shoulder.” The report also stated that Anjel sustained injuries to the vertebrae and spinal cord, with fractures at C2, C3 and C5 of his vertebrae. It mentioned implants at C2 and C3 levels, involving a medical device to treat fractures or instability.

Chakma was attacked by six youths, including two juveniles, on Dec 9 evening when he was out with his younger brother Michael, 21, to buy groceries in Selaqui area of the city.Anjel died at a private hospital on Dec 26 morning. Michael is the complainant in the case. Inspector Bhaskar Sah, leading the SIT probing the case, told TOI, “The autopsy report mentioned ante-mortem head injuries as the cause of death. It corroborates a probe finding that Anjel was attacked with a metal bracelet (kada) by one of the accused before he was stabbed on the lower back with a knife by another accused currently on the run.” Senior neurosurgeon Dr Mahesh Kuriyal said, “With the details of other injuries mentioned in the report, head injuries seem to be the only cause of death as a patient hardly dies of spinal cord injuries. It seems the boy suffered complications due to the head injuries.” Speaking to TOI from Tripura, Anjel’s uncle Momen Chakma demanded “equal and strict punishment for all six accused”.

Mustafizur Rahman; Tamim Iqbal

A senior Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official’s comment calling former captain Tamim Iqbal “an Indian agent” has drawn criticism from players in the country. Tamim, one of Bangladesh’s leading openers, had advised the BCB not to be driven by emotion while deciding on the national team’s participation in the T20 World Cup in India. Nazmul, chairman of the BCB finance committee, made the remark in a Facebook post.

“This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent,” he wrote. The post received immediate backlash from former and current cricketers, including Taskin Ahmed, Mominul Haque, and Taijul Islam. The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) also expressed concern. “A comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal has come to the attention of the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh. We are stunned, shocked, and outraged by it. Such a remark by a board official about the most successful opener in Bangladesh’s history, who represented the country for 16 years, is utterly condemnable.” “Not only because it concerns a player like Tamim, but such comments about any cricketer of the country are unacceptable and insulting to the entire cricketing community,” the players’ body said in a statement. The 36-year-old Tamim played 70 Tests, 243 ODIs, and 78 T20 Internationals for Bangladesh. “We strongly protest against this comment. When a responsible board director makes such remarks on a public platform, it also raises serious questions about the code of conduct of board officials,” CWAB said. “We have already submitted a protest letter to the BCB president, demanding a public apology from the concerned board director and that he be brought under accountability. We hope the BCB president will take appropriate action as soon as possible,” the statement added. Bangladesh had written to the International Cricket Council requesting their T20 World Cup games be moved out of India after the BCCI asked IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the 2026 edition. “Cricket is the life of Bangladesh. A recent comment surrounding a former national captain who has made a major contribution to the game has caused many to reflect,” said pacer Taskin. “I believe that such remarks directed at a former cricketer of the country are not helpful in the interest of Bangladesh cricket. I hope the concerned authorities will consider the matter seriously and adopt a more responsible stance in the future,” he added. In 2007, Tamim’s half-century had helped Bangladesh eliminate India from the ODI World Cup in the Caribbean. Former Bangladesh captain Mominul said Nazmul’s remarks were unacceptable. “The comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal is completely unacceptable and insulting to the country’s cricketing community. Such behaviour towards a cricketer is in direct conflict with the board’s responsibility and ethics,” Mominul said. “A senior cricketer was not given even the minimum respect; instead, he was deliberately humiliated in public. Such remarks show a lack of even basic decorum regarding where and how to speak while holding such a high responsibility. “I strongly condemn this comment and firmly demand a public apology from the concerned director and that he be brought under accountability. I call upon the BCB to take swift and strict action,” he added.

AMBERNATH: In a fresh twist to the political drama in the Ambernath municipal council, a day after 12 suspended Congress councillors joined BJP, all four councillors from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP withdrew their support to the BJP-led front and extended it to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. With this, Sena, which had emerged the single-largest party by winning 27 seats, now has the support of 32 councillors (one backer is an independent), a majority in the 60-member council. The latest move is a setback to an attempt by BJP, with 15 councillors, to gain a majority by first securing the support of 12 Congress and 4 NCP councillors and then taking the suspended Congress councillors into its own fold.

BJP had won the direct election to the post of council president but will now be compelled to share power with Shiv Sena as key positions such as that of deputy president and posts of chairpersons of local committees are expected to go to Sena and NCP, political observers said. The elections held last month saw Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP contest separately. Ambernath has traditionally been a Shiv Sena stronghold and is also considered the bastion of Shiv Sena LS MP Shrikant Shinde, son of deputy CM Eknath Shinde. To maintain control of the civic body, BJP had brought together 12 Congress councillors, four from NCP, and one independent, forming the 32-member Ambernath Vikas Aghadi. The group was formally registered with Thane collector. However, BJP faced criticism for aligning with Congress, and the latter subsequently suspended its councillors, leading all 12 to formally join the saffron outfit. However, Shinde Junior is said to have turned the tables on BJP by securing the support of the four NCP councillors plus one independent. Two independents were elected to the council; the other is with the BJP-led group. Sena MLA Balaji Kinikar confirmed Friday’s developments. A BJP politician who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the four NCP councillors had formally joined the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi, and the group was recognised by the Thane collector. This, he said, raises questions over whether the NCP councillors can extend support to Sena. Observers said the changing political equations have altered the balance of power in the council but may have also opened the door to possible legal and political challenges in the days ahead.

Kevin Pietersen and Brendon McCullum (Photos by Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: After England suffered a heavy 4-1 Ashes series loss to Australia, former England star Kevin Pietersen has spoken out and called for changes in the national coaching setup. Pietersen believes England should think about bringing back former head coach Andy Flower and see him as a possible replacement for current coach Brendon McCullum.

Pietersen shared his views in a post on X, where he openly supported his former coach. He admitted the idea might sound unusual but felt it was worth discussing. According to Pietersen, Flower has changed over the years and now understands today’s players much better. “This is a WILD thought. I reckon one of my wildest. Can England bring back Andy Flower now that he’s changed and in line with the modern-day player? He gets Test cricket. I’ve been told by many players that he’s changed his ways since our drama. He’s winning leagues so really does get the modern-day player. VERY IMPORTANT! Wild, I know! Thoughts?” wrote Pietersen on X. Andy Flower has a strong record as a coach. During his earlier time with England, he guided the team to the 2010 T20 World Cup title and helped them win three Ashes series in 2009, 2010–11 and 2013. Under his leadership, England also reached the number one position in Test cricket. After stepping away from the England job, Flower found great success in franchise cricket. He has won major titles with Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League, Trent Rockets in The Hundred, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025. Brendon McCullum, meanwhile, is still under contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board until the end of the 2027 Ashes series. However, after the Ashes defeat, McCullum admitted there might be someone better suited for the head coach role.

The United States has intercepted and seized another sanctioned oil tanker at sea, escalating its enforcement campaign against so-called “ghost fleet” vessels accused of moving embargoed crude and drawing sharp criticism from Moscow. This was the fifth such interception under Trump’s administration aim to control the distribution of Venezuela’s oil products.The latest operation, carried out in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea, was confirmed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who framed the action as a warning to criminal networks and hostile states alike.

“The world’s criminals are on notice,” Noem said, announcing that the US Coast Guard had boarded and seized the motor tanker Olina after it departed Venezuela and attempted to evade American forces.Describing the ship as part of a shadow fleet suspected of carrying embargoed oil, she said the operation was conducted with close coordination between the Defence Department, State Department and Justice Department, and was consistent with international law.Also read: ‘Our gratitude’ -Moscow says US to release two Russian crew members from seized oil tanker; move after request to Trump “The ghost fleets will not outrun justice. They will not hide under false claims of nationality,” Noem said, adding that the Coast Guard would continue to seize sanctioned tankers and cut off funding streams linked to illicit activity, including narco-terrorism. “This is owning the sea.”The seizure follows an earlier high-profile interception that has already strained relations between Washington and Moscow. Russia has strongly condemned the US capture of another tanker, warning that such actions lower the threshold for the use of force against what it describes as peaceful shipping and risk further escalation across the Euro-Atlantic region. The Russian foreign ministry accused Washington of a “gross violation” of international maritime law and rejected the legitimacy of unilateral Western sanctions, insisting the vessel had been authorised to sail under a Russian flag.Also read: US troops board Russia-flagged oil tanker; choppers hover near ship – watchRussian President Vladimir Putin has so far avoided direct comment, hawkish voices in Moscow have reacted angrily. Washington, however, has defended its actions as lawful enforcement of sanctions on Venezuela and associated oil shipments. US officials say only approved channels consistent with American law and national security interests are permitted to transport Venezuelan crude. The US European Command has said the earlier vessel was seized for violations of US sanctions after attempting to evade restrictions and changing its name and flag.