Hindu Yuva Vahini member’s spice factory using acid, donkey dung unearthed in UP

Agencies

December 16, 2020

Hathras, Dec 16: The Hathras police have unearthed a manufacturing unit making spurious and counterfeit spices of local brands using donkey dung and acid.

The factory is located in Navipur area and the police raided it on a tip-off.

The unit owner, Anoop Varshney, who is also the office bearer of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, has been arrested. Hindu Yuva Vahini, is a Hindu Nationalist youth organistaion, founded by the present chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath.

Joint magistrate Prem Prakash Meena said, "We have seized over 300 kg of fake spices being packed in names of some local brands."

He added that during the raid, several spurious ingredients used to prepare the fake spices were found, including donkey dung, hay (bhusa), inedible colours and drums full of acids.

The recovered adulterated spices included coriander powder, red chilli powder, turmeric and spice mix (garam masala).

More than 27 samples have been sent for tests and an FIR will be registered under the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 once the lab report comes, he said.

Varshney has been remanded to judicial custody under section 151 of the CrPC (arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences).

Meena told reporters that Varshney was unable to provide a license for operating the spice factory at the location where it was being run. He also could not produce the license of the brands, which were being packed.

It is also being checked if the ingredients, prepared in the unit for making spurious spices, were supplied to other units in the city too.

According to food department officials, the adulterants might prove to be a health hazard, especially if consumed over a long period of time.

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Flight cancellations strand passengers overnight at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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