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Several flights were halted at Moscow airport following a drone attack, including the flight carrying DMK’s Kanimozhi-led all-party delegation. Russia and Ukraine have deployed drones against one another regularly since Russia launched its military offensive on Ukraine over three years ago, but Moscow has rarely been targeted. Drone attacks have intensified in recent days.

Russia’s defence ministry said that it intercepted and destroyed 112 Ukrainian drones in a third night of attacks.

Since Thursday evening, “air defence systems destroyed and intercepted 112 Ukrainian drones”, including 24 that were headed toward the capital, the ministry said.

Flight services in Moscow and several other regions were disrupted for more than three hours at night. The flight carrying DMK’s Kanimozhi and five other ministers, an all-party delegation, taking India’s message on Operation Sindoor and anti-terrorism to the world, was also delayed for a brief period.

Last night, Kanimozhi shared a picture of her delegation, including Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai, BJP MP Brijesh Chowta, AAP MP Dr Ashok Kumar Mittal, Former Diplomat Manjeev Puri, and RJD MP Premchand Gupta. She captioned the picture: “Leaving with the members of the delegation to Moscow.”

A 12-year-old boy died by allegedly consuming pesticide after he was accused of theft and asked to do sit-ups by a shopkeeper for “stealing” a packet of chips at Panskura in Paschim Medinipur district, a police officer said Friday.

Krishendu Das, a class 7 student, allegedly lifted a packet of chips from a shop at Gosaiber bazar in the Panskura area on Thursday evening after he failed to find the shopkeeper Subhankar Dikshit. He had called out “uncle I will buy chips” repeatedly without any response and finally left the shop allegedly with one packet of chips, the officer said quoting his grief-stricken mother.

He was allegedly chased by Dikshit who came back to the shop soon afterwards, slapped and asked to do sit-ups in full public view, the officer said quoting a complaint by the family.

The officer said a probe is underway Das’ mother was summoned to the spot and she also scolded him and slapped him while the boy claimed he picked up the junk food packet lying in a heap before the shop and would have come to pay later.

He even offered to pay immediately apologising for lifting the packet without the consent of the shopowner but the shopowner accused him of lying.

A sulking Krishnendu then returned to his house with his mother, bolted the door of his room from inside and did not open the door.

After some time his mother along with neighbours broke open the door and found him frothing from the mouth with a half-empty pesticide bottle lying on his side, the officer said, adding that a note purportedly scribbled by him in Bengali was found lying on the side.

“Maa I am not a thief. I did not steal. Uncle (shopkeeper) was not around as I waited. While returning I spotted a kurkure packet lying on the road and picked it up. I love Kurkure,” said the note.

Krishnendu further said, “These are my final words before leaving. Please excuse me for this act(consuming pesticide)”.

He was taken to Tamluk Hospital and admitted to ICU but died soon afterwards.

The shopowner, also a civic volunteer associated with Bengal Police to assist in traffic management, initially claimed he did not assault the child.

But after the incident became known he could not be traced as a crowd assembled before his closed shop. 

The IMF defended its $1 billion bailout to Pakistan, stating the country met required targets despite India’s concerns over terrorism. The aid is tied to 11 new conditions, including budget approvals and financial strategy planning.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has defended the $1 billion (over Rs 8,000 crore) bailout package to Pakistan, saying the debt-ridden country “met all the required targets” to receive the latest loan instalment. The IMF released the funding when Pakistan was busy with arbitrary firing on India after the Indian military launched Operation Sindoor – a military strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The IMF’s justification comes days after India asked it to reconsider its $2.1 billion bailout to Pakistan as it allows terrorists to use its soil for launching state-sponsored attacks against Indian citizens. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh last week said that the aid to Pakistan is a “form of indirect funding to terror”.

Sixteen months ago, several men barged into the hotel room of an interfaith couple in Karnataka’s Haveri, dragged the woman to a nearby forest and allegedly gang-raped her. Fast forward to 2025, seven of those men were granted bail, which was followed by a triumphant public procession featuring bikes, cars, music and loud celebratory chants. 

The parade occurred in Akki Alur town of Haveri, where a convoy of motorbikes and cars accompanied the released individuals through local roads. The video, showing the accused smiling and flashing victory signs, has sparked outrage.

The Haveri Sessions Court recently granted bail to seven primary accused: Aftab Chandanakatti, Madar Saab Mandakki, Samiwulla Lalanavar, Mohammad Sadiq Agasimani, Shoib Mulla, Tausip Choti, and Riyaz Savikeri. All had been held in judicial custody for several months following their arrest in connection with the gang-rape of the 26-year-old woman.

The survivor, who belongs to a minority community and was reportedly in a long-term relationship with a 40-year-old Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) driver, had checked into a private hotel in Hanagal on January 8, 2024. Police investigations later suggested that the woman was dragged from the premises and taken to a nearby forested location, where she was allegedly gang-raped by a group of men.

The Supreme Court has ruled that no sentence will be imposed on a man convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, citing the unique circumstances of the case. The decision was made by a bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, through the Court’s powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.

The man, who was 24 at the time of the offence, had been convicted of engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor girl. He later married her after she reached adulthood. The couple now lives together with their child.

A committee of experts, including a clinical psychologist and a social scientist, was constituted to examine the victim’s present circumstances and emotional well-being. Their findings played a pivotal role in the Court’s final decision.

“The society judged her, the legal system failed her, and her own family abandoned her,” the Supreme Court remarked.

In its ruling, the Court stated that the victim, now an adult, did not view the incident as a crime. “Though the incident is seen as crime in law, the victim did not accept it as one. It was not the legal crime that caused trauma to her, but rather the consequences that followed. What she had to face as a consequence was the police, the legal system, and a constant battle to save the accused from punishment,” the Court added. “The facts of this case are an eye-opener for everyone.”

The Court held that the extraordinary circumstances, including the emotional attachment of the victim to the accused and their current family life, warranted the execution of powers under Article 142 to do “complete justice”.

Calcutta High Court Connection 

The case first reached the Supreme Court after controversial observations by the Calcutta High Court in its 2023 judgment acquitting the man. The High Court had overturned his 20-year sentence, making sweeping comments about adolescent girls and their perceived moral obligations.

The High Court had said that an adolescent girl should “control sexual urges,” stating that society considers her the “loser” in such encounters. These remarks triggered widespread criticism. The Supreme Court took note of the case, not only to review the acquittal but also to address the High Court’s comments.

On August 20, 2024, the Supreme Court set aside the Calcutta High Court’s judgment and reinstated the man’s conviction.

While restoring the conviction, the Court did not proceed immediately with sentencing. Instead, it ordered a fact-finding process to evaluate the victim’s present situation and her views about the case. The West Bengal government was directed to form an expert committee, including members from institutions like NIMHANS or TISS, and a child welfare officer, to coordinate the inquiry.

Committee’s Findings

The committee was tasked with informing the victim about welfare entitlements and ensuring that her choices were made with full awareness of available support. The Court noted that she had become “emotionally attached” to the accused and was “very possessive” about her small family.

The committee’s report was submitted in a sealed envelope. On April 3 this year, after reviewing the findings and speaking with the victim, the Court observed she required financial assistance. It advised that vocational training or part-time employment be considered after she completes her 10th board examinations.

“She did not have the opportunity to make an informed choice earlier. The system failed her at multiple levels,” the Court said.

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