Sorrow of the sarus; Atiq’s world crumbles: 10 stories you may have missed

With the new Karnataka government, Kiren Rijiju’s exit as Union Law Minister and the Cannes Film Festival dominating the news cycle, these are just some of our special stories and ground reports that may not have made it to your news feed.

Here is a rundown of 10 stories you may have missed today:

1. 01

   Sorrow of the Sarus

   A month after it attained the status of a minor celebrity on social media in February, “Arif ka Sarus” — the crane that spent a year with Mohammed Arif, a farmer in Mandhka village in Amethi district — has been leading a quiet existence in a 40 x 25 foot enclosure since March 25, learning what it is to be a bird.
   
   

2. 02

   How UP plans to deploy IIT, IIM graduates to boost investment

   The Uttar Pradesh state government has hired graduates from top institutes of the country and abroad, including IITs and IIMs to ensure smooth entry for industrialists who want to invest in UP. These graduates will act as a link between the investors and different government departments for all their requirements. The professionals will be referred to as “Udyami Mitra” or friends of industrialists and will be posted in each district of the state as well as at the headquarters from next month, officials told The Indian Express.

3. 03

   Tracking an elusive snow leopard

   The Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Department’s confirmation on the presence of at least half-a-dozen snow leopards at high-altitude Kishtwar National Park, as affirmed by recent camera trap sightings, is more than just a lucky, happy occasion. It is a tale of strategic planning  and its success by the department.
   

4. 04

   Atiq’s world crumbles like a house of cards

   A month ago, gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot dead live on camera on April 15 in Prayagraj. In Prayagraj's Chakia locality, which was Atiq’s base, 10 of the properties belonging to him and his associates have been demolished over the past two years due to “violation of construction norms''. 

5. 05

   Behind death of nine at Bengal firecracker unit

   When we visited Khadikul village in Purba Medinipur district’s Egra town, where blast at a firecracker unit killed nine people, we found that several red flags had been ignored. We also found that the owner of the factory, who is currently absconding, was linked to five deaths in a similar incident in 1995, and three in 2001. 

6. 06

   New dress code at Muzaffarnagar’s Balaji Dham temple

   The Balaji Dham temple in Muzaffarnagar has announced new clothing rules for men and women devotees. In a notice issued on Tuesday, the temple authorities said that those wearing short clothes like ‘half pants and mini skirts’ will not be allowed to have a ‘darshan’ of the deity. The temple committee also said they will talk to first-time violators and then impose a fine if they do not follow the instructions.

7. 07

   Priti Lamba overcomes injury setback

   In 2017 Priti Lamba was a national camp regular and a medal prospect for the 2018 Asian Games. However, While training at the national camp in Patiala, she slipped at a water jump and broke her ankle in two places. It took almost a year for Priti to resume training. Fast forward to the 2023 Federation Cup in Ranchi. Priti clocked 9:47.78s in the 3000m steeplechase and registered the fourth-best all-time India timing. She qualified for the upcoming Asian Championships to be held in Thailand.

8. 08

   In violence-hit Manipur, looted weapons pose big security concern

   As violence in Manipur continues and the curfew is extended for another five days, another concern is added for the security establishment. According to sources in Manipur, more than 1,000 weapons and 10,000 rounds were looted from Manipur Police Training College, two police stations, and an IRB battalion camp in Imphal by Meities during the first few days of the violence in Manipur. 

9. 09

   Beyond paddy, push for crops that pay — & help save water

   Experts in Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Ludhiana and Punjab Agriculture Department have recommended several Kharif crops, as a push for crop diversification. Dr. Amrik Singh, District Training Officer, Punjab Agriculture Department, Gurdaspur said,  “One can start from a small area and then can increase gradually, as a small start by lakhs of farmers in the state can bring a big change,”. These crops will also help in terms of groundwater saving and soil conservation.

10. 10

    Dotted lands in Andhra Pradesh

    The Andhra Pradesh government has started removing “dotted lands” in the state from the prohibited list, restoring full rights of selling or pledging these lands to the farmers who own them. Over 2 lakh acres of these British-era dotted lands have been identified for permanent denotification. What are dotted lands? Why did the state government take up this exercise? We explain.