Thieves strike at MP judge’s house, steal sandalwood trees

News Network

November 17, 2019

Rewa, Nov 17: A gang of five thieves struck at the residence of a district court judge in Rewa and chopped off four sandalwood trees from the premises before decamping with the logs, police said on Saturday.

The incident took place during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, police said, adding that the thieves cut the trees after threatening the judge’s police guard at gunpoint.

The police guard, Budhi Lal Kol, lodged a complaint with the police in this regard.

“As per the complaint, one of the thieves first entered district and sessions court judge Arun Kumar Singh’s bungalow in Civil Lines area on the intervening night of November 14 and 15. He threatened Kol with a country-made pistol. Soon, four other accomplices joined him and held the guard captive,” City Superintendent of Police Shivendra Singh told PTI.

“Within 10 minutes, the accused cut the sandalwood trees and fled with the logs. Total four guards, including Kol, were stationed at different locations at the bungalow when the incident took place. However, the thieves did not harm anyone,” he said.

Police said the judge and his family members were asleep when the incident took place.

According to Singh, police suspect that the accused were from Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj, which is home to several manufacturing units of incense sticks and perfumes.

“In the past, Rewa police had arrested some people from Kannauj for cutting and stealing sandalwood trees from the city,” the CSP said.

“Sandalwood is used in making incense sticks and perfume. The cost of the trees stolen from the judge’s house could be around Rs 3 to 5 lakh,” he said.

Singh said that police have registered a case in this connection and launched a search to catch the accused.

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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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