India News Highlights, 11 September 2026: Gujarat Speaker orders privilege proceedings against Congress MLA

Floodwaters continue to affect large parts of Bihar as several rivers remain above danger levels and authorities step up relief and rescue operations.

Gujarat Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary on Friday ordered Privileges Committee proceedings against Congress MLA Imran Khedawala over his conduct during the recitation of Vande Mataram in the House. Chaudhary said video footage showed Khedawala initially standing but later sitting down while the remaining stanzas were being sung.

The controversy began on the first day of the monsoon session. Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi had sought action against Khedawala, alleging disrespect to the national song and the Speaker’s direction. Khedawala defended himself, saying he stood for the portion traditionally sung and sat down only during the additional stanzas.

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Jammu demolition drive leaves traders seeking immediate rehabilitation

Over a dozen shops were demolished in Jammu’s Satwari area on Friday as part of an ongoing highway expansion drive, with affected traders seeking immediate rehabilitation and alternative shops. The demolition was carried out for the second consecutive day amid heavy security, after authorities issued notices to shopkeepers and asked them to vacate the premises and remove their belongings. Local traders said the action had disrupted their livelihoods and left several families without a source of income. They appealed to the administration and the Lieutenant Governor to provide rehabilitation and alternative spaces to resume their businesses.

Banking services disrupted as bank unions begin nationwide strike

Banking services are likely to be impacted as bank unions launch a nationwide strike to press for a five-day workweek. Employees are seeking changes to working arrangements and other long-pending demands, with the strike expected to affect banking operations at branches across the country. Customers may face disruptions in services, including branch operations and other routine banking work, during the protest.

Church roof collapses in Tamil Nadu, 3 dead and several injured

A Church roof collapses in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district, leaving three people dead and several others injured, with rescue teams working through the night to locate people trapped under the debris. The upper floor of an under-construction CSI church collapsed at Mandai Krishnapuram near Katpadi on Thursday. Ten people were rescued initially, while one person remained trapped and was later located and pulled out by emergency teams, including the NDRF. The rescued workers were taken to government and private hospitals in Vellore for treatment. Authorities have formed a team to investigate the circumstances that led to the collapse, while police are also probing the incident, according to PTI reports.

Xi Jinping arrives in India for BRICS — strategic economic dialogue on the table for Modi-Xi bilateral

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in India for the BRICS summit in his first visit to India in seven years, with the two-day summit beginning today in Delhi. An Indian Express exclusive reveals that a strategic economic dialogue is on the table for the Modi-Xi bilateral — a significant signal of intent to restore structured engagement between the two economies after years of post-Galwan estrangement. Live updates on the BRICS summit are running through the day, with PM Modi also holding bilaterals with Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

US plans to scrap 60-day H-1B grace period — Indians in the crosshairs

The Trump administration is proposing to eliminate the 60-day grace period that allows H-1B visa holders to remain in the US after losing a job, a change that would disproportionately affect Indian tech professionals who make up the overwhelming majority of H-1B holders — giving them no buffer time to find new employment before having to leave the country.

Omar Abdullah hits back at Congress: ‘Want Kashmiris in jail?’

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah fired back at Congress over advice on the Vande Mataram row, asking pointedly whether the party wanted Kashmiris to be sent to jail for not singing the song — a sharp rebuke that has deepened the rift between the National Conference and its former alliance partner.

Ford Foundation vacates its India office after six decades

The Ford Foundation has vacated its India office after being told to leave, ending a presence of more than six decades in a country where it funded civil society, research institutions and development organisations through periods of considerable political turbulence — including previous government scrutiny of foreign-funded NGOs.

Anthropic’s AI threat report: Russian espionage, dissident monitoring

Anthropic has published a threat report detailing how its Claude AI has been used for Russian espionage, dissident monitoring and AI-assisted cyberattacks, even as the company moves to block weapons-related queries from users in China and Russia — a dual disclosure that underlines both the risks of frontier AI systems and the company’s active attempts to limit misuse.

Live Updates
Sep 11, 2026 06:08 PM IST
Gujarat Speaker orders privilege proceedings against Congress MLA

Gujarat Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary on Friday ordered Privileges Committee proceedings against Congress MLA Imran Khedawala over his conduct during the recitation of Vande Mataram in the House. Chaudhary said video footage showed Khedawala initially standing but later sitting down while the remaining stanzas were being sung.

The controversy began on the first day of the monsoon session. Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi had sought action against Khedawala, alleging disrespect to the national song and the Speaker’s direction. Khedawala defended himself, saying he stood for the portion traditionally sung and sat down only during the additional stanzas.

(PTI)

Sep 11, 2026 04:03 PM IST
Nine arrested in three cases over mobile phone smuggling into Bengaluru prison

Nine men have been arrested in three separate cases involving the alleged smuggling and use of prohibited mobile phones inside Bengaluru's Central Prison, police said on Friday.

The arrests followed investigations into mobile phones, SIM cards and other prohibited items found inside the prison. Police said the investigations revealed the alleged involvement of prison staff, inmates and others in supplying mobile phones to prisoners.

In one case, a surprise inspection on August 11 led to the seizure of a mobile phone, SIM card, charger and notebook from a cell occupied by undertrial prisoner Prathap Rai and convicted former MP Prajwal Revanna. Five persons were subsequently arrested in connection with allegedly facilitating the phone's entry into the prison.

In another case, police arrested prison warder Srinivas Naik on August 28 for allegedly procuring and supplying around 12 mobile phones inside the prison. In the third case, police arrested Chief Warder Vijay Kumar, who allegedly helped supply a mobile phone to an inmate.

Police said further investigation is underway to identify other inmates and prison staff allegedly involved in the cases.

(PTI)

Sep 11, 2026 03:51 PM IST
Telangana Assembly passes bill to enable co-option of transgender persons in municipal corporations

The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Friday passed a bill to enable the co-option of transgender persons as members of municipal corporations.

State Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu, who moved the Telangana Municipalities (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2026 on behalf of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, said the legislation would provide transgender persons with representation in municipal administration and decision-making.

The bill proposes the co-option of one transgender person as a member in each of the nine municipal corporations outside the Core Urban Region (CURE) of Hyderabad.

Sridhar Babu said the initiative was aimed at bringing transgender persons, who face social discrimination and marginalisation, into the mainstream and ensuring their greater participation in public life.

Sep 11, 2026 03:48 PM IST
Teen girl dies of severe burns after LPG leak triggers fire in UP's Pilibhit

A 17-year-old girl died after suffering severe burns when an LPG cylinder leak triggered a fire at her home in a village under the Gajraula police station area, police said on Friday.

The incident took place on Thursday evening when the gas regulator suddenly began leaking while Anuradha was in the kitchen. According to police, the leaked gas caught fire, and the flames quickly engulfed her.

Hearing her screams, family members rushed to the kitchen and brought the fire under control. Anuradha sustained severe burns and was taken to the Puranpur Community Health Centre, where doctors referred her to the district hospital.

(PTI)

Sep 11, 2026 03:00 PM IST
Delhi traffic alert: Rain may cause waterlogging at some locations

The Delhi Police has issued a traffic alert following the rainfall in the city. In a statement, it said that temporary waterlogging may occur at some locations, potentially affecting traffic movement. It also advised the commuters to drive cautiously, allow extra travel time and follow instructions from traffic personnel.

Sep 11, 2026 01:44 PM IST
Palakkad: 8 electricity fuses stolen from transformer amid power cuts

Eight electricity fuses were allegedly stolen from a transformer at Thriveni Nagar in Palakkad, leaving residents without power amid ongoing power cuts in Kerala, residents said on Friday. The power supply was disrupted on Thursday night.

Residents initially assumed the outage was part of the scheduled power cuts but contacted the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) after the supply was not restored for two hours. Officials who reached the spot found that all eight fuses were missing.

Palakkad Town South Police have started a preliminary investigation and are examining CCTV footage to identify those responsible. Police and residents suspect the involvement of anti-social elements, while KSEB is also likely to file a complaint over the alleged theft.

Sep 11, 2026 01:22 PM IST
5 detained over death of construction worker in Mizoram

Five construction workers have been detained for questioning following the death of a 42-year-old co-worker in Mizoram’s Mamit district, police said on Friday. The victim, who hailed from Nepal, was allegedly killed by his co-workers on Wednesday night while they were camping near Lungphun village.

His body was later recovered from a gorge. The workers were employed by a road construction company involved in repairing roads, walls and culverts in the area.

Police said the five suspects, including some from Nepal, have been taken into custody and their statements recorded. An autopsy is scheduled to be conducted at Kanghmun on Friday, after which the body is likely to be handed over to a Gorkha association in Aizawl.

The matter remains under investigation, and police said it has not yet been established whether the death was a case of homicide. Local residents alleged that the workers had an argument before the victim was reportedly hit in the leg and later dumped into the gorge.

Sep 11, 2026 12:58 PM IST
Nepal flash flood death toll rises to 1,385

The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 1,385, according to the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

Rescue and recovery operations continue across the affected areas, with authorities working to locate those still missing and provide assistance to displaced survivors.

Sep 11, 2026 12:38 PM IST
Thane mental hospital clears Rs 58 lakh wage dues of 68 sanitation workers

The administration of the mental hospital in Maharashtra’s Thane has disbursed Rs 58 lakh in long-pending wage arrears to 68 contractual sanitation workers following a Bombay High Court directive, officials said on Friday.

The workers had staged protests and a 28-day chain hunger strike after their employer, Lokrajya Swayamrojgar Seva Sahakari Sanstha, allegedly failed to comply with the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, according to the Shramik Janta Sangh Union.

The workers received the dues in their bank accounts earlier this week, the union said. In December last year, the assistant labour commissioner had ordered the contractor to pay Rs 58 lakh within 45 days and directed the hospital administration, as the principal employer, to assume liability if the contractor failed to make the payment.

The contractor challenged the order in the Bombay High Court. In April, the court directed implementation of the labour court orders within four weeks.

Union vice-president Sanjay Mangala Gopal said the payment had brought relief to the workers and reiterated the union’s demand to end the contract system for permanent roles and ensure fair wages.

Sep 11, 2026 11:55 AM IST
Over a dozen shops demolished in Jammu for highway expansion, shopkeepers seek rehabilitation

The Jammu administration demolished 13 shops in the Satwari-Nai Basti area on Friday as part of ongoing highway expansion work, triggering resentment among shopkeepers who demanded immediate rehabilitation.

The demolition drive was carried out for the second consecutive day amid heavy security. Officials said the affected occupants had been served notices several times and were asked to remove their belongings before the structures were demolished. Power supply to the shops was disconnected on Wednesday.

Nearly 20 shops were demolished in the Satwari area on Thursday, while 13 were brought down on Friday, according to locals.

Shopkeepers alleged that the demolitions had severely affected their livelihoods and urged the administration to provide alternative shops. One shopkeeper, Arminder Singh, said his shop had been in existence for 50-60 years and claimed he had municipal records relating to it. The demolition is part of ongoing infrastructure and highway expansion works in Jammu city, according to PTI reports.

Sep 11, 2026 11:46 AM IST
2 injured in firing incident near Karkardooma Community Centre in Delhi

Two men sustained gunshot injuries in a firing incident near Karkardooma Community Centre in east Delhi, police said on Friday.

Police received information from Hedgewar Hospital on Thursday evening about the admission of two injured men, identified as Afsar, a resident of Ghaziabad, and Irshad, a resident of Old Seelampur.

Both suffered gunshot wounds to their backs and are undergoing treatment at the hospital. Their condition is stable, police said.

A case has been registered at Anand Vihar police station and further investigation is underway.

Sep 11, 2026 11:33 AM IST
Banking services hit as unions strike nationwide over five-day workweek demand

Banking services, particularly at public sector banks, were affected across the country on Friday as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) began a nationwide strike demanding the immediate implementation of a five-day workweek and resolution of pending wage-related issues.

Most branches of public sector banks were either fully or partially closed as employees and officers joined the strike. Cash deposits and withdrawals, cheque clearances and administrative work were among the services affected, while digital banking services such as UPI and internet banking continued to function.

The UFBU, an umbrella body of seven unions representing around 90 per cent of bank officers and employees, said the strike was called after the government failed to accept their demands. Private sector banks were largely unaffected.

The unions are seeking a declaration of all Saturdays as holidays. The demand was reportedly agreed upon in the 12th Bipartite Settlement signed with the Indian Banks' Association in March 2024 but is yet to receive government notification. Banks currently remain open on the first, third and fifth Saturdays.

The unions have also sought improvements in pension and a uniform dearness allowance formula for pensioners, besides an option for employees covered under the National Pension System to switch to the Old Pension Scheme.

Sep 11, 2026 11:30 AM IST
Satya Niketan building collapse: 3 accused taken for medical examination, to appear in court

Delhi Police on Friday took three accused arrested in connection with the Satya Niketan building collapse case for medical examination before producing them before the Patiala House Court later in the day.

The three accused, building owner’s son Mahesh Gupta, contractor Sanoj Kumar and PG operator Sudhanshu, were in police custody for the past two days. Police are expected to seek further directions in the case after producing them before the court.

The arrests were made in connection with the September 6 building collapse at Satya Niketan, in which seven people were killed. The court had earlier granted two days of police custody to the three accused.

Meanwhile, Patiala House Court on Thursday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of advocate Shubham Tyagi, a PG operator linked to the building. The court noted that a rent agreement had been suppressed in his application and said the investigation was at an initial stage.

The court said further investigation was required into Tyagi’s knowledge, consent and financial and operational role in the property. The prosecution alleged that Tyagi was a co-lessee and business partner of Sudhanshu and that the two jointly ran PG accommodations under the name “Hotel / Hostel Daze”.

Sep 11, 2026 11:18 AM IST
MP hooch tragedy: Main accused held after encounter in Sagar, 16 dead

One of the main accused in the Madhya Pradesh fake liquor case, which has claimed 16 lives, was arrested after an encounter with police in Sagar district early Friday, according to a PTI report.

Ravi Lakhera, 45, sustained a bullet injury to his leg after police intercepted him in Baraytha forest, around 40 km from the district headquarters. Two of his accomplices, who were travelling with him on a motorcycle, managed to escape. Lakhera was taken to a hospital in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and is in stable condition, police said.

Lakhera is accused of manufacturing fake liquor with licensed liquor contractor Manish Lodhi alias Yashwant Singh Lodhi and supplying it through peddlers in Sagar district. Of the 30 people named as accused, 16 have been arrested and one detained. Another 32 people who consumed the liquor are undergoing treatment.

Police said Lakhera has around 25 criminal cases registered against him in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere, mostly under the Excise Act. The state government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the hooch deaths.

Sep 11, 2026 10:59 AM IST
Two road crashes claim 14 lives, 9 injured in Maharashtra

At least 14 people were killed and nine injured in two separate road accidents in Maharashtra’s Nanded and Bhandara districts, both involving heavy vehicles.

In Nanded, six people were killed and five injured after a Tata Magic passenger vehicle collided head-on with a truck at Sitakhandi Ghat on the Nanded-Bhokar road. The injured were taken to hospitals in Bhokar and Nanded.

In Bhandara, eight labourers were killed and four seriously injured after a pickup vehicle carrying workers collided with a truck on the Nagpur-Raipur National Highway near Pimpalgaon/Sadak in Lakhni taluka. The victims are believed to be from Chhattisgarh. The injured were admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Bhandara.

Sep 11, 2026 10:53 AM IST
1,375 packets of banned tobacco seized, Assam man held in Thiruvananthapuram

Police seized 1,375 packets of banned tobacco products and arrested a 42-year-old man from Assam for allegedly selling them illegally in Kazhakuttam, Thiruvananthapuram, officials said.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided Ziarul Haque’s rented house around 11 pm on Thursday and recovered bags containing pan masala and other banned tobacco products kept in different rooms.

Police said Haque allegedly procured the products from states where their sale is permitted and brought them to Thiruvananthapuram to sell at higher prices. A case has been registered under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).

Police are investigating whether others were involved in the illegal sale.

Sep 11, 2026 10:28 AM IST
Kedarnath route: Massive landslide blocks road near Chirbasa helipad

A cloudburst triggered a massive landslide on the Kedarnath route, blocking around a 150-metre stretch near the Chirbasa helipad.

Sep 11, 2026 10:21 AM IST
Vellore church collapse: 3 labourers killed, 11 injured as roof collapses during construction

Three labourers were killed and 11 others injured after the roof slab of an under-construction Church of South India building collapsed at Mandi Krishnapuram near Katpadi in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district on Thursday.

The collapse occurred while labourers were pouring concrete for the roof. A police officer said the 20-foot steel scaffolding and support structure suddenly gave way, trapping workers under concrete debris and rubble.

The injured were taken to Vellore Government Medical College Hospital, Christian Medical College Hospital and a hospital in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. An NDRF team from Arakkonam joined police, fire services and district officials in the rescue operation. Vellore District Collector P S Leela Alex said at least eight of the injured workers were in stable condition.

The district administration will form a committee to investigate the cause of the structural failure and check whether the builder had obtained the required approvals and building permits, the Collector said.

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