The Uttar Pradesh Police have intensified their crackdown on the alleged illegal trade, diversion and distribution of regulated codeine-based cough syrup, arresting six persons in separate operations in Etah and Mirzapur districts, officials said on Monday.

Playing down the power tussle in the Karnataka state unit of Congress, AICC General Secretary Sachin Pilot on Monday said, both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar are working like brothers, and whatever decision the Congress high command takes on the matter will be acceptable to everyone.

The Kerala government has issued a strong warning that schools will not be allowed to turn into “laboratories of communalism,” taking serious note of reports that some private school managements in the state imposed restrictions on Christmas celebrations and refunded money collected from students for the event.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that any decision on a change in Congress leadership will be taken only by Rahul Gandhi, and the party will accept whatever he decides.

The Delhi High Court on Monday protected the personality rights of Bollywood actor R Madhavan by restraining several websites and online platforms from illegally using his name or images for commercial gain without his consent.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that the BJP is opposing hate speech legislation passed by the state legislature, as the saffron party is allegedly involved in making hateful and provocative speeches.

A 17-year-old student from Kamakshi Street in the city, Prem Kumar, died of drowning while swimming in River Tunga in Pillangiri village of the taluk recently.

 A Russian general was killed on Monday morning after an explosive device detonated underneath his car in southern Moscow, investigators said.