Panaji: Goa Police’s investigation into the Mapusa and Dona Paula robbery cases has revealed that the accused Bangladeshi nationals had entered India from Meghalaya.They planned the robbery in Goa when one of them was in Colwell jail, where he developed his network. This person used to come to India every six months since 2010 to commit robberies in different parts of the country.Bangladeshis do Reiki for about two days to understand the sleeping patterns of families. The accused escaped with goods worth Rs 55 lakh – Rs 35 lakh in the Dona Paula robbery and Rs 20 lakh in the Mapusa robbery.DGP Alok Kumar said that the accused persons were identified by the Goa Police long ago and now, the main accused has been arrested. Kumar said that after the crime he fled to Bangladesh. The five arrested are Noor Islam alias Nadeem Khan, Mohammad Saiful Islam, Sattar Khan, Zakir Hauladar and Mohammad Sumon Hauladar from Bangladesh.Crime Branch SP Rahul Gupta said that it has been found that he had crossed the border from Meghalaya. Since one of them, Noor Islam, already has a criminal history in Goa, he is familiar with Goa and was instrumental in bringing the rest of the gang members to the state.He said, “Noor Islam was in Colwell jail for about 22 months, and he was transferred to a jail in Andhra Pradesh, where he got bail. After that, he returned to Goa to commit robberies. He developed his criminal network in the jail and used the same to carry out the robberies.”“Some of the gang members conducted recce of the targeted residential areas and the accused persons stayed in nearby secluded/forest areas for a day or two and observed the sleeping patterns of the residents,” Gupta said. “They also studied the number of family members and the easiest entry into the house. They divided themselves into small groups of two to three to avoid being noticed.”Gupta said the accused persons used to have fixed meeting points like bus stands, railway stations and beach areas. “They did not use technical methods of communication to avoid detection,” he said.The accused were equipped with weapons like rods and knives in case they threatened the residents and faced retaliation. The source of these weapons is still being established.Upon gaining unlawful entry into the said bungalows, the accused persons evaluated the internal layout, identified closed and open rooms, and selectively targeted accessible areas for robbery.“While committing the crime, the accused assaulted and tied up the family members present in the house and then committed robbery by snatching gold ornaments and other valuables,” Gupta said. Goa Police teams were sent to Belagavi, Bijapur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati, Tripura and Meghalaya. Gang members identified and details shared with state police departments

New Delhi: India generated 464 billion units (BU) of electricity in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025-26, up 3% year-on-year, driven by strong growth in non-fossil fuel-based power generation, especially solar power, the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said on Thursday.While coal and lignite based generation declined by 1%, generation from solar and wind increased by 24% and 11% respectively. Solar generation reached 48.9 BU in Q4, with the highest daily generation of 658 million units (MU) recorded on March 2, the research organization noted in its first quarterly energy snapshot for India.However, it said the increasing incidence of renewable energy outages highlights the growing challenges in integrating clean energy into the grid. A significant amount of clean energy remained unused during the last quarter of FY26, with approximately 27 GW (72 MU) of solar power and 4 GW (6 MU) of wind power cut. An additional 83 GW (103 MU) of solar and 11 GW (17.5 MU) of wind power were curtailed under India’s Tertiary Reserve Support Service, a manually activated power system balancing service used to resolve grid congestion.Manoj Kumar, India Analyst at CREA, said, “India’s growing electricity demand is being met by renewable energy, especially during peak hours of the day. However, increasing curtailment of renewable energy shows that grid infrastructure and flexibility are not keeping pace with clean energy growth. With stronger transmission networks, more flexible grid operations and faster battery deployment, a larger portion of evening and night-time demand can also be met through non-fossil sources.”The highest outages were recorded in Gujarat, highlighting grid integration challenges in high-renewable areas.After recording an all-time peak demand of 250 GW on May 30, 2024, India’s peak power demand reached a new fourth quarter peak demand of 245 GW on January 9, 2026. Thermal generation accounted for 67% of the total (165 GW), followed by solar at 20% (48 GW). Maharashtra recorded the highest state-level peak demand (32 GW) in Q4FY26, followed by Gujarat (25 GW) and Uttar Pradesh (23 GW).

on the occasion of labor dayfilm producer Anand PanditKnown for supporting films like Total Dhamaal, The Big Bull and Chehre, the film showcases the often overlooked workforce that makes cinema come alive. For him, the magic of films lies as much in the unseen work behind the scenes as in what unfolds on screen.Tracing the roots of this perspective, he says, “In the seventies, when I saw Guddi, it changed my understanding of cinematic glamour. The film showed with great honesty how lightmen and stunt doubles often work in unsafe conditions, and how the glittering world of cinema is built on the sweat, blood and tears of countless crew members whose names we never know.”He also acknowledges the filmmakers who have attempted to highlight these contributors. “When Farah Khan showed the faces of her crew at the end of Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om, she humorously and respectfully acknowledged the unsung artists behind the scenes. It is the technicians, spot boys, dancers, craftsmen and wardrobe, hair and makeup assistants who bring the stories to life on screen.”Speaking about his approach as a producer, Pandit emphasizes responsibility towards crew welfare. “I have always tried to ensure that everyone working on my sets is well taken care of. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I and a few colleagues came together to support the daily wage workers who remain the backbone of our industry.”Highlighting the irreplaceable human element in filmmaking, even in the age of technology, he says, “No matter how much we rely on Artificial Intelligence in pre-production and post-production, we cannot replace the warmth and passion that workers bring to filmmaking. For example, the lavish sets of Mughal-e-Azam, directed by. Asif, were completely handmade. The Sheesh Mahal was built over two years using thousands of pieces of Belgian glass, with artisans devoting a lot of time and skill.“He cites other cinematic landmarks that stand as testimony to collective labor. “The rural world of Sholay, directed by Ramesh Sippy, was recreated from scratch in Ramanagaram, while Lagaan’s fictional Champaner was brought to life by hundreds of workers led by production designer Nitin Chandrakant Desai.”Emphasizing how every department contributes to the final vision, Pandit says, “Without those who work in sound, editing, cinematography, lighting, action and costumes, our cinematic vision will remain incomplete. This is not to belittle the contribution of the stars, but we should not ignore the people who support them with their invisible artistry. Films like Luck By Chance capture this ecosystem beautifully. When we admire Vijay Anand’s lyrical depictions, the cinematography of ‘Waqt Ne Kiya’, RD Burman’s music, or the grandeur of films like Umrao Jaan, Pakeezah and Amrapali, we must also acknowledge the countless individuals whose labor made these moments possible.Describing filmmaking as an intensely collaborative process, he concludes, “Filmmaking is an orchestral effort where hundreds of people work together to create something meaningful. The labor involved is not just physical but emotional. When each person on the set feels valued, it turns into magic on screen. We must also ensure safety, fair working conditions and better systems for social security. After all, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.“

Saroj KhanWho passed away on July 3, 2020, was considered one of the best choreographers indian cinema ever seen. Known for creating unforgettable dance sequences like ‘Ek Do Teen’ and ‘Dola Re Dola’, among many others, her professional achievements were monumental, but her personal life saw a lot of struggles and traumas. Yet, it was her passion for dance that helped her move forward. She was married at the age of just 13, but it was later revealed that the marriage was invalid. Forced to take up responsibilities early in life, he never had the chance to experience a carefree childhood. Interestingly, his entry into films was not planned but happened by chance.Recalling those early days, she had said in an interview with Prayas Se Kamyab Tak, “My father had died, and I had to run the household. I became a group dancer. I was studying and wanted to become a doctor, but God had other plans.”A defining moment in his journey came when he caught the attention of the famous dance director Sohanlal On a film set. He noticed that she was not only taking her prescribed steps, but was also matching dancer Helen’s steps perfectly. When he was asked to perform the entire routine, he did so with confidence and secured a position as his assistant at the age of just 12.However, his relationship with Sohanlal soon took a complicated turn. At the age of 13, she married him despite him being three decades older than her, only to later discover that he was already married and had four children, making their union illegal. By the age of 14, she was expecting her first child.Recalling that period in an interview with BBC, she said, “I didn’t know what marriage meant at that time. Just one day he put a black thread around my neck and I thought I was married.”Years later, in 1975, she again found favor with businessman Sardar Roshan Khan, who proposed to her. She agreed to marry him on the condition that he accept and adopt her children from a previous relationship. Saroj Khan, a Punjabi Hindu by birth, converted to Islam after marriage, honoring his request.Despite finding stability later in life, personal loss weighed on him. From her first marriage, she suffered the heartbreaking loss of a baby girl, who died within eight months of birth.

A 21-year-old man has been jailed after sending an obscene video to a teacher and then blackmailing her into sharing it with students, leading to the victim losing his job and attempting to take his own life.Muawiya Amin, from Allanton, Derbyshire, posed as a woman on Instagram and had a conversation with the teacher which turned sexual. During the exchange, the victim sent a video of himself performing a sexual act at his workplace.Prosecutors told Derby Crown Court that Amin later demanded £1,000 to stop the footage being shared. The teacher paid £400 via PayPal in an effort to stop the video being released and contacted police the same day, The Sun reports.Despite receiving payment, Amin continued to distribute the footage to the teacher’s students. The victim, who remained anonymous throughout his life, was dismissed from his job and later attempted suicide.Sentencing Amin to 15 months in prison, Judge Shaun Smith Casey described his actions as “depraved behaviour”.“He went through all the concerns about his privacy, reputation and personal safety,” the judge said. “Even when the money was paid you still sent it.”He said the consequences for the victim were serious.The judge said, “His work was done, but the worst part was that on the night it was published, he tried to take his own life.” “You knew what you were doing and you achieved it.”In a statement read out in court, the victim described the emotional impact of the incident, saying he suffered extreme distress and felt his life had been destroyed.Amin admitted to blackmailing. His defense said that he had acted under pressure and was trying to get along with people he considered his friends.“He fully accepts that his actions were wrong and he is responsible,” his lawyer told the court. He said that he has the support of his family and is working in the family business.The court heard the victim survived after someone contacted him on the night he attempted to take his own life.This case highlights the serious consequences of online exploitation and blackmail, especially when victims are targeted through social media platforms.