Veteran BBC journalist Mark Tully, known as ‘voice of India’, passes away at 90
New Delhi: British journalist and broadcaster Mark Tully, widely regarded as the BBC’s “voice of India”, passed away on Sunday at the age of 90. He had been hospitalised for a week, news agency ANI reported.
Born in Kolkata, Tully moved to the United Kingdom in his early years before returning to India in 1965 for work. He joined the British Broadcasting Corporation as an administrative assistant and went on to become its bureau chief in New Delhi, a role he held for nearly two decades.
Over a long and influential career, Tully reported on some of the most defining moments in modern Indian history. His coverage included the wars between India and Pakistan, the Emergency imposed in 1975, communal riots, the Bhopal gas tragedy and Operation Blue Star.
In 1984, during Operation Blue Star ordered by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Tully and fellow journalist Satish Jacob were the only reporters to enter the Golden Temple complex and report on the presence of fortifications before the military action against Sikh militants.
Tully’s tenure in India also saw confrontations with authority. During the Emergency, the BBC was expelled from the country in 1975 after it refused to sign a government-mandated censorship agreement. Tully, who was then the BBC’s Delhi correspondent, was given just 24 hours to leave India.
Known for his deep understanding of Indian society and politics, Tully remained closely associated with the country long after his formal retirement, earning respect for his balanced reporting and long engagement with India’s public life.
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Delhi Police busts LPG black marketing racket in Bawana, 75 cylinders seized; 1 held
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Police has busted an LPG cylinder hoarding and black marketing racket in the Bawana area, an officer said on Friday.
A 50-year-old man, identified as Anil, has been arrested and 75 cylinders seized, he said.
The accused was apprehended following a tip-off about the illegal storage and transportation of LPG cylinders in the industrial area.
Acting on the input, a police team laid a picket near District Park in Bawana on Thursday evening. Around 4 pm, a pickup truck was intercepted and checked, leading to the recovery of 27 LPG cylinders, including both domestic and commercial units.
"When questioned, the accused failed to produce any valid documents, including a licence, permit, stock register or proof of ownership for the cylinders," the officer said.
During interrogation, Anil revealed that more cylinders were stored at nearby premises. Based on his disclosure, police raided two rooms and an iron shed near a factory in the area.
"A total of 48 additional cylinders were recovered, taking the overall seizure to 75. The cylinders were stored without safety measures or legal authorisation, posing a serious risk," the officer said.
Disruptions in maritime supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US-Israel and Iran conflict have caused an LPG crisis in India.
