Overview
- Odisha police registered a mob-lynching case under BNS 103(2) in Balasore and have arrested six suspects after a 35-year-old man, identified as Sheikh Makandar Mohammed, died from injuries captured in a video under forensic review.
- After civic results, BJP leaders in Maharashtra began an internal review as the party’s 89-seat BMC haul fell short of its 110-seat goal, while Uddhav Thackeray accused Eknath Shinde of fearing the BJP following reports of councillors being moved to hotels.
- At the Magh Mela on Mauni Amavasya, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand declined to bathe alleging his disciples were assaulted; police said his followers ignored phased-entry instructions issued for crowd control.
- Varanasi’s Manikarnika redevelopment drew a site inspection by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who said viral images were misleading, asserted that no temple or idols were destroyed, and stated fallen sculptures are secured for restoration.
- Public-safety updates included a 27-year-old software engineer’s death after a prolonged rescue from a waterlogged basement in Greater Noida and a Latehar bus overturning that killed five and injured about 25, with rescue and medical response continuing; separately, scientists flagged a steep Himalayan snowfall deficit since 1980 with strong western disturbances forecast from 18 January.