Gunshots fired at Panjab University, Chandigarh March 17, 2026: Firing was fired by unidentified persons at Panjab University, causing panic across the campus, police teams have launched a full-scale investigation to trace the culprits. Photo by Nitin Sharma

Chandigarh: The Operation Cell of Chandigarh Police has claimed to solve the Panjab University shootout case with the arrest of four people including the shooters. Police said the accused were also involved in two murders and a firing incident in different parts of Punjab. Police claimed to have seized three sophisticated pistols and 16 bullets from the accused – Gaurav alias Gola, Aryan, Rajat alias Gudda of Amritsar and Ravi Nijjar alias Kali, resident of Sirsa, Haryana.An operation cell team led by Inspector Harinder Singh Sekhon Gangster Shaganpreet and Donny Bal’s associate Aryan were arrested near a night club in Sector 26. An automatic pistol and four bullets were recovered from him. Later the police arrested Ravi Nijjar, Gaurav and Rajat and recovered two more pistols and 12 bullets.According to the police, the accused had planned to shoot at three night club owners and a real estate businessman in the city to extort money.Police said the accused were carrying out murders and shootouts on the instructions of foreign handler Donny Bal and his associate Shaganpreet for just Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. The accused were allegedly drug addicts who took to crime to obtain drugs.The accused revealed that Shaganpreet was in direct contact with them through encrypted social media applications.Police said the accused were involved in the firing incident at Panjab University, where unidentified assailants opened fire on SOPU student leader Jashanpreet Singh Jawanda in the parking lot of the Botany department. The attackers fled away after snatching the motorcycle at gunpoint from a passerby near the PU.The Bambiha gang had claimed responsibility for the attack in March.Police said that on March 17, on the instructions of Doni Bal and Shaganpreet, Aryan, Gaurav and Rajat had gone to PU to kill Jashanpreet Singh Jawanda.Box: Other cases in which he was involvedDuring interrogation of Gaurav, it was revealed that he along with Aryan and Sonu alias Shanga had done recce of a commission agent shop in Khanna on the instructions of gangster Shaganpreet.On March 25, Gaurav and Sonu opened fire at the shop.Police said Gaurav and others shot dead Gurpreet Singh ‘Gopi’ Nijjar, a key witness in the 2015 murder of gangster Sukha Kahlwan, on May 1, 2026.The accused also revealed that on March 25, 2025, Rajat, Aryan and Bobby had shot dead Amarjot Singh, a class 12 student, in Amritsar.Accused Bobby had provided automatic pistols and cartridges to the shooters.

A private bus bound for Bengaluru caught fire near Shantigram in Hassan district in the early hours of Saturday.

Mangaluru: What started as a routine overnight journey from Surathkal to Bengaluru turned into a fight for survival Vaishnavi And then her 10 year old daughter The private bus in which they were traveling caught fire near Shantigram in Hassan district Early on Saturday.Vaishnavi said that the falling AC vent probably saved her life. She had boarded the bus at lower berths 8 and 9 with her daughter at 9.30 pm on Friday night. After working on her laptop until the bus entered the ghat section, where network connectivity stopped, she went to sleep.She told TOI, “Around 1.30 am, I closed my laptop and went to sleep. An hour later, the bus stopped somewhere in Hassan and I saw the driver and cleaner moving around as if something had gone wrong. We thought the crew might have sensed some problem, but we still decided to continue as Bengaluru was less than 200 km away.”The bus resumed its journey but stopped again near Shantigram. A stampede broke out within some time. “Smoke started entering the bus. But the crew did not shout or ask the passengers to leave,” he said. “The moment that probably saved my life was when the AC vent suddenly fell on my face and I woke up completely. Then I smelled a strong smell of smoke.”As the passengers urged the driver to stop, Vaishnavi woke up her daughter and got out. “We had no slippers, no bag, nothing. I only had my phone as I usually keep it in my pocket while traveling through the ghat section. Everything else – my laptop, purse with important cards, jewellery, clothes – were inside,” she said.As the bus burst into flames, Vaishnavi shouted for the passengers to get out before pulling her daughter to safety. She said, “I ran as far as I could, I thought the bus might explode. At that moment, I only wanted to save my child.”Later he noticed that passengers were still getting out and passing motorists, bus drivers and locals rushed to help with water and fire extinguishers. Fire and emergency services personnel arrived at around 3.15pm.She said, “My clothes smelled of smoke. I could still hear voices and it felt like there was smoke everywhere around me.” As most of the Bengaluru-bound buses were full due to the busy travel season, some buses offered standing space to stranded passengers. Eventually, Vaishnavi and her daughter boarded the KSRTC Sarige bus.“I had no money. I held my daughter tightly all the way to Bengaluru and tried to control my tears. She was still in shock. It was only after we reached home that I broke down completely,” she said.He said, “I lost my documents, jewellery, clothes and laptop. My daughter also took her dance costume and jewelery to perform in front of the family after completing her junior dance exams recently. We are grateful to have escaped alive, but strongly feel that the crew should have warned the passengers earlier.”

Bengaluru: The High Court has canceled the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Abdul Khader Nihad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Dakshina Kannada district, who was working as a driver in Saudi Arabia.Justice Sachin Shankar Magdum, in his order passed on April 29, said, “The State cannot economically pauperize a citizen under the guise of investigation. The constitutional guarantee under Article 21 is not limited to mere animal existence, but extends to dignified existence and economic freedom.”The 27-year-old petitioner is facing proceedings in a criminal case registered against him under sections 351(2), 352, 353(1)(c) and 192 of the Indian Justice Code, 2023, in connection with an inflammatory social media post and was arrested upon arrival at the Bajpayee airport in Mangaluru last year. Although Nihad was released on bail and his mobile phone returned, the LOC issued against him continued and he was not allowed to travel abroad. Due to this he had to approach the High Court.After perusing the materials on record, Justice Magdum pointed out that Nihad has already been arrested and interrogated, a competent court has released him on bail and he no longer has any incriminating material. “The petitioner has cooperated with the investigation; he is on bail and his presence can be ensured through conditions. Nevertheless, the State seeks to impose a blanket travel ban, which is neither necessary nor proportionate. The LOC, in its present form, acts as a civil death to the livelihood of the petitioner, especially when his place of employment is located abroad,” the judge pointed out.Therefore, the impugned action fails the test of fairness, reasonableness and non-arbitrariness. He said, continuation of LOC despite the petitioner being on bail is arbitrary and disproportionate.

MLC Ivan D’Souza addressed the media in Mangaluru on Saturday

Mangaluru: : MLC Ivan D’Souza said on Saturday that the Chief Minister has written a letter to the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court requesting immediate establishment. Circuit Bench in MangaluruAnd they hope that it will be installed by August this year.He told reporters that the Chief Justice is expected to visit the city by the end of this month or in the first week of June to inspect the infrastructure identified for the proposed bench. D’Souza said that when the Chief Minister had visited Mangaluru four months ago, he had expressed support for the demand and said that a decision would be taken after discussion with the Chief Justice.D’Souza said that during a meeting with the Chief Justice in Udupi, he accepted that this was a genuine demand and the law should be decentralized so that justice can be delivered closer to the people. However, the Chief Justice had asked what was the government’s view on the issue, he said.He said that although the Chief Justice can expand the bench, he believes that the government and the Chief Justice should move forward together and has requested the Chief Minister to write a letter. “Now we feel that 80% of the work has been completed after the Chief Minister’s letter,” Ivan said. He expressed confidence that the High Court Circuit Bench would be established soon.D’Souza said, the Chief Justice had raised concerns about infrastructure and basic facilities, which has now been clarified through the government’s communication. He said a demand has been made for a separate committee and a nodal officer to look after the residence of judges.D’Souza said the circuit bench would benefit the citizens of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi, while adding that the decision on jurisdiction rests solely with the Chief Justice.In his letter, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said litigants and lawyers from coastal districts have to travel to Bengaluru, causing financial strain, logistical difficulties and delays in accessing justice. He said a circuit bench in Mangaluru would decentralize judicial access and ensure timely and affordable justice. He said that the government is ready to facilitate this initiative immediately.The letter said that approximately 50,000 square feet of space in the old Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mangaluru has been identified for residential accommodation for judges and necessary civil and administrative infrastructure as well as court operations.

Mumbai’s prestigious Aarohi Mahotsav returns for its 24th edition on 20-21 May, showcasing six promising young Indian classical musicians. Powered by Pancham Nishad, this free event at Rabindra Natya Mandir provides an important platform for emerging talent. The festival, celebrating its legacy of nurturing artistes, promises vibrant performances of traditional music with youthful expression.

For over two decades, Aarohi – A Festival of Rising Stars has quietly built a reputation as one of Mumbai’s most respected platforms for emerging Indian classical musicians. This year, the festival returns for its 24th edition on May 20 and 21 at the Mini Theatre, Rabindra Natya Mandir, with six young artistes set to carry forward the classical traditions of India. The festival starts at 6pm both evenings and is open to all with free entry.Established in 2002 with the vision of “Catching Them Young”, Aarohi has presented over 138 young musicians to Mumbai audiences, not as students, but as serious concert-ready artists. Over the years, the festival has earned the trust of the city’s classical music community for highlighting artistes at the defining moments of their journey.Six artists, six unique musical journeysThe opening evening on May 20 will feature singer Chaitanya Parab, whose performance has sincerity and emotional depth. “It is a privilege to present Indian classical music on a platform that has consistently supported and celebrated India’s rich musical heritage,” he says.Also performing is santoor maestro Divyansh Srivastava, who will present his first full-length classical santoor recital in Mumbai. A disciple of Pandit Bhajan Sopori, Srivastava represents the Sopori Sufiana Gharana. He shared, “This performance is particularly emotional for me, it allows me to present the musical aesthetics and bass of the Sopori Sufiana Gharana as a proud disciple of Pandit Bhajan Sopori.”The evening concluded with a performance by first generation professional musician, singer Adya Mukherjee. “Indian classical music is deeply connected to my identity and emotions. To be able to pursue this professionally and present it on a platform like Aarohi is incredibly meaningful to me,” she says.Tradition meets youth expressionThe second evening on May 21 will begin with Swati Tiwari, a singer trained in both the Gwalior and Banaras gharanas. She says, “I am very grateful for the opportunities that allow young artists to share the essence and purity of our classical music with discerning audiences.”Flutist Samyak Parashari will bring his contemplative perspective on the flute to the stage. He says, “For me, performing at Aarohi is an opportunity to connect with listeners emotionally through the flute and contribute in my own way to keeping our classical traditions alive for young audiences.” The festival will be concluded by singer Abhed Abhisheki, grandson of Padma Bhushan awardee Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki and son of Shaunak Abhisheki. He says, “I feel extremely honored to be performing at the prestigious Aarohi Mahotsav. This is my first time singing on such a large scale in Mumbai, which is a mix of nervousness and excitement. This is an important milestone, and I am looking forward to giving my best performance.”All six actors will also be co-starring Yeti Bhagwat, Swapnil Bhise, Rohit Dev, Manoj Solanki, Sudhanshu Gharpure and Dnyaneshwar Sonawane.‘Right platform at the right time’What Aarohi has maintained over 24 years is his belief that young musicians flourish not through showmanship, but through meaningful listening and thoughtful platforms. Shashi Vyas of Pancham Nishad, the show’s curator, says, “The vitality of Indian classical music depends on empowering young musicians at the right time. Aarohi was conceived to meet this need – and even after more than two decades, its spirit continues to inspire and resonate.”

Gautam Rode strategically moved from television to films and OTT at the peak of his career, seeing it as a necessary exposure for growth and access to more compelling roles.

In an industry built on constant visibility, taking a step back can feel like a gamble. Gautam RodeHowever, he has accepted that risk – moving away from television at the peak of his career to seek opportunities in films and OTT.He says his decision was both strategic and necessary. “You want to take on interesting roles, meaty roles in other mediums, so you have to step back. If you’re constantly seen on the same platform, you won’t be considered for lead roles on other platforms. Also, it takes time for other platforms to get easy for you because you have a large portion of the work coming from television. So they have to forget you in that space, and then when you meet them, they see you in a different light, and that’s nice.“Gautam sees risk not as a disruption, but as an essential part of growth. “Even in a normal job, you can be fired. If you want to move forward, you have to take that chance. Otherwise, you will keep doing the same thing. So changing platforms is a risk I took, but I am glad I did,” says the actor, who has been a part of the OTT show The matter is legal, Undekhi – The Final Battle, State of siege: 26/11 and Naqab. Same craft, different process.Having worked across different mediums, Gautham rejects the idea that acting styles are fundamentally different. He said, “There is a myth that TV acting, OTT acting and film acting are different. There is nothing different. For me, it is just about giving my hundred percent.”He explains that the real difference lies in the process. “With OTT and films, you get time to prepare; you get the script a month or one and a half in advance. You sit over it, you make your notes, the lines are in your mind. In television, you get the script on the set. That’s the difference,” he says.

Shivya Pathania; With the show’s producer Harsh Mainra

Ek Rishta Sajhedaari actress Shivya Pathania is all set to host a reality show SpectraA family-friendly series produced by Harsh Menara. Built on the idea of ​​”No drama. No fight. Only fundamentally right”, the show follows seven master artists as they travel across the Himalayas. Talking about the experience, Shivaya said, “I have been fortunate to be a part of projects that connect with the audience, but Spectra Feels different. I wasn’t guiding the competition; I was looking at tours. It requires a lot more listening than speaking and being present in the moments rather than directing them.”He added, “It doesn’t try to compete for attention. It invites you to slow down, feel and connect. No drama, no fighting, just fundamentally right.” Talking about the contestants, Shivaya shared, “We approached the contestants as individuals, not as participants. Outside the cameras, especially, it was important to create a space where they felt safe enough to just be themselves. When people express themselves through art, you see parts of them that they might not even say out loud. That honesty stays with you.”Producer Harsh Menara said the concept emerged from “fatigue with noise”. He explained, “We are surrounded by content that demands constant response, but little that allows reflection. Together.” SpectraWe didn’t want to remove the drama for the sake of it; “We wanted to change it in a deeper way.”Reflecting on filming in the mountains, Shivaya concluded, “There’s a certain stillness that transforms you. You stop performing, even unconsciously, and start just becoming. Some of the most powerful moments were when nothing was being said, just being felt.”