CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: A 17-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped from her home at a village in Beed district on the night of March 10, raped and later left tied to a pole in the village chowk throughout the night. The Pimpalner police on March 13 arrested the survivor’s former boyfriend (29) based on her statement.The police said the survivor and the suspect belonged to families of sugarcane cutters. The incident came to light early in the morning of March 11 when some villagers spotted the survivor tied to the pole and alerted her husband, who reached the spot. The survivor was taken to her marital home, while her husband went to the Pimpalner police station to report the incident.Inspector Madhusudhan Ghuge of the Pimpalner police said on Sunday, “We told the survivor’s husband on March 11 to bring her to the police station, but he did not come back thereafter. Instead, the survivor reached the police station on March 13, along with her mother and uncle, and recorded her statement. She named her former boyfriend from the same village as the culprit. We then arrested the suspect based on her statement.”Ghuge said, “The survivor told us in her statement that she had left the door of her house open in the night because it was hot. Her husband and father-in-law were asleep. Taking advantage of this, the suspect entered the house, picked up the girl and pressed her mouth to ensure that she did not raise an alarm. He took her near the riverbed on the outskirts of the village and raped her.”Beed superintendent of police (SP) Navneet Kanwat said “We arrested the suspect immediately after receiving a complaint. The suspect is in police custody till March 17. From the initial investigation, it appears that the survivor had an affair with the suspect before she got married.”Assistant police inspector Atulkumar Landge, who is investigating the case, said, “We referred the survivor and the suspect to a govt hospital for medical examination. Its reports are awaited. We have invoked Section 4 (penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sections 137 (2) [kidnapping], 333 (trespassing) and 64 (2) [i] rape of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in the case.”Inspector Ghuge said, “We are investigating the case from all angles to clear certain ambiguities arising from the initial statement by the survivor’s husband and the charges levelled by the survivor against her ex-boyfriend, a bachelor.”(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)

NEW DELHI: Israeli envoy to India, Reuven Azar, on Monday addressed the ongoing Middle East conflict, explaining the timing of Israel’s recent military operation on Iran and its relation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel in February.He acknowledged that tensions around Israel were already high before PM Modi’s arrival, but Tel Aviv waited until the Prime Minister’s departure to seize the “operational opportunity” to act against Iran.“It was evident that the situation is very volatile in our region even before Prime Minister Modi came (on February 25–26, 2026). When it comes to the decision to strike, the operational opportunity came only after PM Modi left. The cabinet decision to approve the operation happened only 2 days after,” he told ANI news agency, addressing speculations about the timing of the US-Israel strikes on Iran.

On India’s position regarding the US-Israel conflict with Iran, Azar said, “We will continue our engagements with India. We have a lot of common interests. Of course, India will pursue diplomatic efforts that serve the Indian interests.”

He also commented on Iran’s retaliatory strikes, noting that Israel had anticipated such moves. “We are not surprised, we knew that the Iranians have these capabilities. In fact, following our effort back in June, we have degraded the capabilities of Iranians and the damage that they are inflicting on Israel now is much less than what they did back in June. They decided to escalate by attacking 12 countries in the region. I think this is completely irresponsible…The pressure is on them and will continue to be on them because they are the aggressors.”Responding to disinformation around Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Azar said, “Prime Minister Netanyahu is alive. I saw him personally when I was in Israel more than once. This video at the cafe is not AI-fabricated. There is a lot of disinformation.”Regarding Israel’s strategic goals in the conflict, Azar said, “There is no shifting of the goal post. We have stated, at the outset, that we have three goals – to neutralise the nuclear threat, to neutralise the ballistic missile threat and to give the Iranian people an opportunity to embrace the future by degrading the capability of the forces of oppression inside Iran…So, we are doing exactly that. Nothing has changed in terms of our aims...We will make sure that after this war is over, the Iranian regime cannot reconstitute these plans.”

NEW DELHI: The signing of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed by Sunrisers Leeds, an outfit owned by the Sun TV Network headed by Kavya Maran, has sparked a major controversy in India, drawing a sharp reaction from legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar. The former captain said Indian-owned franchises should refrain from signing Pakistan players, arguing that such payments could indirectly contribute to harm against India.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Abrar was bought for £190,000 during the inaugural men’s auction of The Hundred in London, making him the first Pakistani cricketer to be picked by an Indian-owned team in the competition. The move triggered strong backlash online, with the franchise’s social media accounts facing heavy criticism and even a temporary suspension.Writing in his Mid-day column, Gavaskar said the outrage was understandable given the long-standing stance taken by Indian cricket since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, after which Pakistan players were effectively barred from the Indian Premier League. “The furore created by the acquisition of a Pakistani player by the Indian owner of a franchise in The Hundred is hardly surprising,” Gavaskar wrote.He argued that payments made to Pakistan players ultimately flow back to their government through taxes. “The realisation that the fees that they pay to a Pakistani player, who then pays income tax to his government which buys arms and weapons, indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians is making Indian entities refrain from even considering having Pakistani artistes and sportspersons,” he said.Gavaskar added that whether the payment comes from an Indian company or an overseas subsidiary, the responsibility still lies with the owner. “If the owner is Indian then he or she is contributing to the Indian casualties. It’s as simple as that,” he wrote, questioning whether success in a franchise tournament was more important than national sentiment.He also warned that fans could express their anger publicly. “It won’t be a surprise that for every game that this team plays there will be massive demonstrations by Indian fans protesting at this hard-to-believe buying,” Gavaskar said, adding that crowds might even boycott matches despite the presence of star players.Meanwhile, Sunrisers Leeds head coach Daniel Vettori defended the decision as a purely cricketing one, explaining that the franchise moved for Abrar after missing out on England leg-spinner Adil Rashid during the auction. According to Vettori, Abrar’s variations and ability to strike in powerplays made him an attractive option, particularly at Headingley.India board vice-president Rajeev Shukla also clarified that the Board of Control for Cricket in India cannot intervene in the matter as the signing involves a foreign league, leaving the final call to the franchise itself.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Monday said it will frame a standard operating procedure (SOP) on the honorarium paid to gold valuers by banks, following concerns raised in the Legislative Council over low fees and rising risks faced by jewellers engaged in gold loan assessments.Cooperation minister Pankaj Bhoyar was responding to a calling attention motion moved by MLC Chitra Wagh, who highlighted that valuers — largely jewellers — are underpaid despite bearing significant financial and legal responsibility in gold loan transactions.Bhoyar said the government would consult legislators before finalising the SOP on honorarium. However, he indicated that direct intervention in fee structures may be limited, noting that such charges are typically decided between banks and valuers.Raising Calling Attention Notice No. 609 under Rule 101, Wagh pointed out that gold valuers play a critical role in ensuring transparency and accountability in gold loan disbursal, as they are solely responsible for assessing the purity and authenticity of pledged ornaments.She said that with gold prices rising and compliance requirements becoming stricter — including fraud prevention, ownership verification and KYC norms — the burden on valuers has increased substantially.Despite this, the remuneration remains low. For instance, valuers earn around ₹350 for assessing gold worth ₹10 lakh, she said, adding that private banks have reduced fees by nearly 60% in recent years without consultation.Wagh argued that given the heightened risks, including liability and insurance in case of incorrect valuation, fees should be increased by at least 30%. She also called for removal of “unlimited indemnity” clauses and sought clearly defined, reasonable liability limits in agreements.No clear guidelines yetIn his reply, Bhoyar said the state government has not issued specific guidelines on gold loan transactions, which are governed primarily by norms set by the Reserve Bank of India.He noted that gold loans are extended by a range of institutions including nationalised and private banks, cooperative banks, rural banks, cooperative credit societies and non-banking finance companies (NBFCs).As per RBI guidelines, banks can lend up to 65% of the gold value for loans up to ₹2.5 lakh and up to 75% for loans up to ₹5 lakh, with a typical repayment period of one year.The minister added that while some large banks use machines to test gold purity, many continue to depend on valuers. However, there are no prescribed norms by either the RBI or the state government on the fees payable for such services.Fee burden may hit borrowersBhoyar cautioned that any increase in valuation fees could ultimately be passed on to borrowers, making gold loans costlier for customers. “Since the fee charged by valuers is often recovered from borrowers, recommending an increase may not be appropriate,” he said.He reiterated that matters such as valuation fees are considered contractual between banks and valuers, and hence outside the scope of direct government regulation.Demand for broader reformsWagh also pressed for standardised loan agreements in Marathi, balanced contractual terms between banks and valuers, and stricter implementation of documentation and KYC norms to curb fraud.She claimed that proper verification and documentation could reduce instances of fake jewellery being pledged by up to 10%.While the government stopped short of announcing immediate regulatory changes, the proposed SOP — to be drafted after consultations — signals a possible framework to address concerns over compensation, accountability and risk-sharing in the gold loan ecosystem.For thousands of jewellers working as valuers across Maharashtra, the move is likely to be closely watched as they seek fair pay in a business that underpins a key segment of retail lending.

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has strongly criticised Pakistan’s cricket selectors after the national team lost the ODI series 2–1 to Bangladesh national cricket team. The defeat came shortly after Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, increasing pressure on the team’s management and decision-makers.Bangladesh sealed the series with an 11-run win in the deciding match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Afridi publicly blames Pakistan selection committee

Following the defeat, Afridi publicly blamed the selection committee for the team’s struggles. Speaking in a video shared on social media, he questioned their decisions and leadership.

“You saw the performances in the 2026 T20 World Cup, and after that we also lost the Bangladesh series 2–1. In my opinion, the selection committee deserves criticism. All of you in the committee have played so much cricket, yet you still don’t seem to have the idea of who should be the captain for which format,” Afridi said.He also criticised what he called excessive experimentation with young players. “You keep making too many decisions in the name of ‘surgery’. What you are doing is picking youngsters and players who have barely played a few first class matches. Your domestic cricket is not even of that standard that it can consistently produce players ready to secure a place in the Pakistan team,” he added.Afridi further claimed that experienced players with good ODI records had been unfairly pushed aside. While he has not mentioned any names, it is somewhat clear that he was hinting at players like Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, who were dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the Bangladesh series. “The senior players who actually deserved their place even if they didn’t have strong T20 performances had very good records in ODIs. But in the name of ‘surgery’, you sidelined those experienced players despite their solid ODI performances,” he stated.He concluded by arguing that the selectors’ strategy lacks direction and could destabilise the team. “Instead, you brought in youngsters who have only played a few domestic and first-class matches. The standard of domestic cricket is not high enough, and those players are not ready to come straight into the Pakistan team and cement their place. You keep handing out Pakistan caps again and again, this is not surgery. If anything, the real surgery should be done on the selection committee,” he said.

Bangladesh beat Pakistan to win three-match series 2-1

Batting first, Bangladesh put up a solid total of 290 for 5 in 50 overs. The innings began strongly with an opening stand between Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan. While Saif scored 36 runs, Tanzid delivered a standout performance with his maiden ODI century, scoring 107 runs with six fours and seven sixes. Later contributions from Litton Das (41) and an unbeaten 48 from Towhid Hridoy helped Bangladesh reach a competitive total.Pakistan’s chase began poorly as both openers were dismissed within the first two overs, leaving the team at 2 for 2. Despite the early setback, Salman Ali Agha fought back with an impressive century, scoring 106 from 98 balls to keep Pakistan in the contest. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi added 37 runs, while debutants Saad Masood (38) and Ghazi Ghori (29) showed some promise. Abdul Samad also chipped in with 34, but Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 279, falling short of the target.Bangladesh’s bowling played a key role in sealing the victory. Taskin Ahmed led the attack with four wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman took three. Earlier in the match, Pakistan bowler Haris Rauf had been the most successful for his side, claiming three wickets.