India News Highlights, 18 August 2026: Madrassa allegedly built on UP government land demolished

India News Highlights, 18 August 2026: Latest Breaking News From India, Delhi, Mumbai & Around the World

18 Aug 2026, 03:41 · The Indian Express · Join

The Arabia Ziaul Uloom Madrasa, located in Pipra Ramlal village under the Dumariyaganj tehsil area, was demolished using bulldozers amid tight security arrangements. (File Photo/ Representational)

A madrasa allegedly built on UP’s Siddharthnagar government land was demolished by the district administration. The Arabia Ziaul Uloom Madrasa, located in Pipra Ramlal village under the Dumariyaganj tehsil area, was demolished using bulldozers amid tight security arrangements.

If you are just joining us, this is The Indian Express Realtime breaking news blog – where we bring you the latest news updates of the day in real time. Scan the top headlines of the day here, or keep scrolling to see the latest updates stream in.

Bihar transfers officers amid controversy over police action

The Bihar government on Tuesday transferred 17 senior IPS officers, including the superintendents of police (SPs) of Bhojpur and Siwan, where police action triggered controversy. According to the circular issued by the state government, Bhojpur SP Pooran Kumar Jha, whose order to use an AK-47 rifle had also drawn criticism, has been placed on the waiting list for a new posting.

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Ex-Kerala CM’s daughter faces fresh ED searches in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate conducted fresh searches at eight locations in Kerala as part of its money laundering probe into the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) case, officials said. The investigation centres on alleged fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore by CMRL to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct company owned by Veena Vijayan, daughter of former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The payments were allegedly made under the guise of IT consultancy services. The ED had searched Veena’s premises in June and subsequently questioned her as part of the probe being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Madhya Pradesh road accident

Eight labourers were killed and 32 others injured early Tuesday after the pick-up vehicle they were travelling in collided with a dumper truck in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district which is about 75 km northeast of Gwalior, police said. The accident occurred around 1 am near Chhimka village on the Bhind-Gwalior National Highway. The labourers, from Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri, were returning home after completing paddy transplantation work in Gwalior. Police said the driver lost control while trying to avoid cattle on the highway, causing the vehicle to veer into the opposite lane and hit the truck.

Jharkhand Protest Update

On the 16th day of his hunger strike, student leader Devendra Nath Mahato ended his fast at Sadar Hospital in Ranchi on Monday night. This came hours after Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and all exams conducted on behalf of TDPL. The student leader broke his fast in the presence of state ministers Dipika Pandey Singh and Irfan Ansari, bringing an end to his 16-day hunger strike. The student-led protest has continued for 23 days.

Government sent one social media blocking order per minute from March to July

The government issued social media blocking orders at the rate of one per minute between March and July, with over half directed at Instagram — the primary platform used by protesters during the CJP-led demonstrations. Data from the Sahyog portal reveals a dramatic acceleration from a daily average of six takedowns between October 2024 and 2025, pointing to a significant expansion of the government’s digital content removal apparatus during the protest period.

Supreme Court list today

The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions alleging police excesses against students protesting over the NEET paper leak. The court will also hear pleas filed by the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction challenging the Election Commission’s decision to recognise the Eknath Shinde-led group as the real Shiv Sena and allot it the party name and the ‘bow and arrow’ symbol.

Delhi’s draft electoral roll could delete a third of names in SIR

Delhi’s draft electoral roll under the Special Intensive Revision process could see up to a third of names deleted — a figure that has alarmed opposition parties and civil society groups who say the scale of the exercise raises serious questions about electoral integrity in the capital ahead of what is expected to be a closely watched assembly poll.

Live Updates
Aug 18, 2026 07:00 PM IST
Bhopal nursing students protest

Nursing students staged a protest in Bhopal over delays in examinations and the declaration of results.

Aug 18, 2026 05:28 PM IST
Madrasa allegedly built on government land demolished by administration

A madrasa allegedly built on government land was demolished by the district administration.

The Arabia Ziaul Uloom Madrasa, located in Pipra Ramlal village under the Dumariyaganj tehsil area, was demolished using bulldozers amid tight security arrangements. (PTI)

Aug 18, 2026 04:44 PM IST
Bihar IPS reshuffle: 17 senior officers transferred, Bhojpur SP on waiting list

(PTI)

Aug 18, 2026 04:31 PM IST
Andhra Pradesh: Four cars gutted in fire at car decor shop

Four cars were gutted in a fire at a car décor shop in Narasaraopet, Andhra Pradesh.

Aug 18, 2026 04:05 PM IST
‘How can movement end until there is leak-proof exam system?’: Devendra Mahto

“How can the movement end until there is a leak-proof examination system?” JLKM leader Devendra Mahto said.

Aug 18, 2026 04:03 PM IST
Indian-origin man charged with sexual assault of woman in Surrey, Canada

A 40-year-old Indian-origin man in Canada has allegedly been charged with sexual assault against a woman.

He has been charged with two counts following the alleged sexual assault of a young woman at a city park in Surrey, Canada.

(PTI)

Aug 18, 2026 03:31 PM IST
Fire breaks out at old ATC building of Kolkata airport, no injuries reported

A fire reportedly broke out at the Old Air Traffic Control (ATC) building of NSC Bose International Airport.

No injuries or flight disruptions have been reported so far. The fire reportedly broke out on the third floor of the building.

(PTI)

Aug 18, 2026 03:27 PM IST
Delhi High Court agrees to list plea over ‘illegal detention’ of AAP MLA

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday agreed to list a plea alleging illegal detention of AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar.

On Monday, while protesting outside the mortuary at Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Hospital, demanding Rs 1 crore compensation and a government job over the stabbing of a 27-year-old contractual worker of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the AAP claimed that police 'picked up' Kuldeep and took him to an 'undisclosed location'.

Aug 18, 2026 02:12 PM IST
JSSC-CGL cancellation sparks fresh protests as 2,000 candidates fear job loss

Around 2000 candidates who cleared the JSSC-CGL exam and are now government employees fear losing their jobs after the Jharkhand government cancelled the exam and recruitment tests conducted by outsourced agency TDPL since 2014. The decision, taken amid protests over alleged exam irregularities, was welcomed by job aspirants but triggered protests among successful candidates, who said they support an investigation but want a fair chance to defend themselves. Many fear fresh recruitment will not help those who have crossed the age limit. The candidates have sought a CBI probe and warned of hunger strikes and legal action. (PTI)

Aug 18, 2026 02:05 PM IST
Bomb threat emails sent to over a dozen Nagpur schools, police call it hoax

More than a dozen schools in Nagpur received bomb threat emails. No explosives or suspicious objects were found, and officials said the threats appeared to be a hoax. The emails claimed blasts would occur at schools, courts and offices on August 31 and contained references to Khalistan, RSS, BJP and political leaders. Police are investigating the source of the emails and identifying the sender. (PTI)

Aug 18, 2026 01:45 PM IST
Weather Updates: Depression moves towards Jharkhand, rain eases in Kolkata

A depression over Gangetic West Bengal moved towards Jharkhand on Tuesday, raising hopes of improved weather in Kolkata after heavy rain caused widespread waterlogging and traffic disruptions. The IMD forecast heavy rain in several western districts of West Bengal, including Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Bardhaman, till Wednesday morning, along with thunderstorms and gusty winds in parts of south Bengal. Heavy rain is also expected in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri till August 21.

Aug 18, 2026 01:35 PM IST
Supreme Court directs handover of July 20 ‘sansad chalo’ march footage to panel

The Supreme Court said it would direct the authorities to hand over video footage of the July 20 “sansad chalo” march in Delhi to a high-powered committee. The committee will examine the footage as part of its proceedings, the court said.

Aug 18, 2026 01:27 PM IST
BJP demands Sonia Gandhi’s apology over Vande Mataram row

BJP Karnataka president B Y Vijayendra accused Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of insulting the country by objecting to the Centre’s decision to have the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ sung in its entirety. He said the BJP was not issuing any “certificate of patriotism” but demanded that Gandhi apologise for her stand. Referring to JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy’s remarks on Gandhi, Vijayendra reiterated that she should apologise without further delay.

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Aug 18, 2026 01:19 PM IST
Government-Meta talks lead to action on child abuse content

The government’s talks with Meta have led to action against content related to child sexual abuse, IT Ministry sources said. The Centre has made it clear that such content violates Indian laws and cannot be protected under safe harbour rules. Sources said the government’s aim is not to censor social media but to ensure platforms follow Indian laws and address online harms. (PTI)

Aug 18, 2026 01:03 PM IST
4 key operatives of ISI-linked network arrested in Delhi, Punjab

Security agencies have arrested four key operatives in a crackdown on an alleged ISI-linked network during raids across Delhi and Punjab. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into the network’s activities and suspected links to Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Aug 18, 2026 12:54 PM IST
J P Nadda undergoes angioplasty at AIIMS

Union Health Minister J P Nadda underwent angioplasty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, on August 17. He is currently in stable condition and remains under observation in the Department of Cardiology, according to officials.

Aug 18, 2026 12:22 PM IST
SC dismisses plea against hanging, leaves door open for review of execution methods

The Supreme Court dismissed a 2017 petition challenging hanging as the mode of execution for death row convicts and seeking alternatives such as lethal injection. The court noted that it cannot direct the legislature to adopt a particular mode of execution. The plea had also sought options including shooting, electrocution and gas chambers, while the Centre had earlier maintained that hanging was a quick and simple method of execution. (PTI)

Aug 18, 2026 12:18 PM IST
Congress leaders tonsure heads in protest over alleged insult to Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress MP Chandrakant Handore and other party leaders got their heads tonsured in Chembur as part of a ‘mundan’ protest over the alleged insult of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The leaders staged the protest to express their opposition to the alleged remarks.

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Aug 18, 2026 12:07 PM IST
Government seeks social media compliance, not censorship: IT Ministry sources on Meta talks

The government’s discussions with Meta are not aimed at censorship but at ensuring social media platforms comply with Indian laws and take steps to mitigate potential harms arising from online content, IT Ministry sources said. The sources said the government’s focus is on strengthening compliance and addressing concerns related to harmful content while respecting the legal framework governing social media platforms. (PTI)

Aug 18, 2026 12:00 PM IST
Fire breaks out at Kolkata airport’s old ATC building; no flight disruption

A fire broke out on the third floor of the old Air Traffic Control building at Kolkata airport, sending dense black smoke through part of the eight-storey structure. Three fire tenders brought the blaze under control within a short time, while flight operations remained unaffected, officials said. Fire officials suspect a short circuit involving decorative fairy lights installed for Independence Day celebrations may have triggered the fire.

Aug 18, 2026 11:42 AM IST
BJP’s new key roles for three poll-bound states – UP, Punjab and Gujarat

The Bharatiya Janata Party has nominated Tarun Chugh, Vinod Tawde, and Satish Poonia to oversee election prep work in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab respectively. All three states will vote next year and each represents a critical electoral battle for the ruling party.

Chugh, Tawde, and Poonia – all Rajya Sabha MPs – are considered strong organisational hands, and will be tasked with ensuring the party retains power in Gujarat (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state) and Uttar Pradesh, while wresting Punjab away from the Aam Aadmi Party.

The party is expected to announce state-in-charges for the other poll-bound states – which includes Manipur, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Himacha Pradesh – in due course. Read

Aug 18, 2026 11:27 AM IST
SC notice to Centre, states, social media firms over disclosure of accused identities

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, state governments and social media platforms on a PIL seeking directions to restrain police from publicly disclosing the identity of accused persons online

Aug 18, 2026 10:54 AM IST
1 killed, 19 injured as house collapses in Kolkata’s Jorabagan

At least one person was killed and 19 others injured after a house collapsed in Jorabagan area of Kolkata, West Bengal, officials said. Rescue operations are underway at the site, with teams working to search for and evacuate anyone who may still be trapped under the debris.

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Aug 18, 2026 10:51 AM IST
30 injured as bus falls into paddy field in Odisha's Nayagarh

At least 30 people were injured after a bus carrying 40 passengers fell about 20 feet into a paddy field in Odisha's Nayagarh district, police said. The accident occurred around 2 am on the Nayagarh bypass when the Bhubaneswar-bound bus, travelling from Daringbadi in Kandhamal, hit a road divider and the driver lost control. The bus overturned, and passengers broke the windshield to escape.

Aug 18, 2026 10:43 AM IST
Flood situation worsens in Odisha's Mayurbhanj, around 5000 hectares submerged

The flood situation in Odisha's northern Mayurbhanj district, which borders Jharkhand and West Bengal, has worsened, with around 5,292 hectares of agricultural land submerged and more than 400 kutcha houses damaged, District Magistrate Hemakanta Say said. Cyclone shelters have been opened across villages, while NDRF and ODRAF teams have been deployed in Betnoti, Badasahi, Rasgovindpur and Baripada for rescue and evacuation. Authorities are closely monitoring the Subarnarekha River as its water level is expected to rise. Relief, including house-building assistance and food support, is being provided to affected residents.

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Aug 18, 2026 10:27 AM IST
ED searches 21 locations across Karnataka in KPSC job scam case

The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at 21 locations across Karnataka and Ahmedabad as part of its money laundering probe into an alleged job scam involving the Karnataka Public Service Commission, officials said. The searches covered the KPSC office, residences of suspended KPSC chairman Shivashankarappa S Sahukar and member Shanta Hosmani, alleged middlemen, candidates selected as veterinary officers, and the premises of Edutest Solutions Pvt Ltd, which handled digital evaluation of exam papers. The searches were spread across Bengaluru, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davangere, Raichur, Karwar, Kalaburagi, Belagavi and Ahmedabad, officials said.

Aug 18, 2026 10:09 AM IST
Ex-Kerala CM's daughter faces fresh ED searches in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate conducted fresh searches at eight locations in Kerala as part of its money laundering probe into the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) case, officials said.

The investigation centres on alleged fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore by CMRL to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct company owned by Veena Vijayan, daughter of former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The payments were allegedly made under the guise of IT consultancy services.

The ED had searched Veena's premises in June and subsequently questioned her as part of the probe being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. (PTI)

Aug 18, 2026 09:52 AM IST
Delhi: Light rain likely in isolated areas

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 27.8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, 1.3 degrees above normal, as the India Meteorological Department forecast generally cloudy conditions with light rain at isolated places later in the day. The weather office has forecast a maximum temperature of around 33 degrees Celsius.

Aug 18, 2026 09:46 AM IST
UP government hands over SIT final report on donation ‘theft’ to Ram Temple Trust

The Uttar Pradesh Home Department on Monday handed over the final report of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged theft of cash and valuables at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, it is learnt.

A case was registered and eight accused were arrested earlier on the preliminary report findings of the three-member SIT the state government had formed before the Supreme Court intervened in the matter.

The SIT is headed by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant with Lucknow Range Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kiran S and Finance Secretary Neel Ratan as members.

According to government sources, the report was studied and discussed thoroughly by top officials and necessary steps were being taken on the findings. Read

Aug 18, 2026 09:45 AM IST
Landslide hits Ghodbunder Road in Thane, traffic restored after debris cleared

A landslide struck Ghodbunder Road in Thane’s Bhayandarpada area on Monday evening, with heavy stones and soil falling onto the road near a residential complex, officials said. No casualties were reported. The Regional Disaster Management Cell received the alert around 8.40 pm and deployed excavators to clear the debris and prevent traffic disruption on the busy arterial road.

Aug 18, 2026 09:43 AM IST
7 injured in CRPF vehicle-truck collision in Jammu-Srinagar National Highway

At least seven people, including five CRPF personnel, were injured on Tuesday after a CRPF mini-truck collided head-on with a truck at Levdora in Qazigund along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Four of the injured CRPF personnel are officers, while the truck’s driver and conductor also sustained injuries. All seven were taken to a hospital and their condition was reported to be stable, officials said.

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Aug 18, 2026 09:18 AM IST
8 labourers killed in Madhya Pradesh road accident

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