Top news of the day: Odisha rejects premature release of Graham Staines murder convict Dara Singh; two senior Leh leaders express concern over ‘protest marches’, and more

Odisha rejects premature release of Dara Singh serving life for murder of Graham Staines, two sonsThe premature release of Rabindra Kumar Pal alias Dara Singh, serving a life sentence for the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons, has hit a deadlock, with the State Sentence Review Board (SSRB) rejecting his release after the Supreme Court directed the Odisha government to take a clear stand on the matter. Earlier, the Director General of Prisons and Correctional Service and Kendujhar Jail Authorities had recommended his release on grounds of good behaviour.“The Kendujhar district authority on August 28, 2026 have reported that on August 15, 2026, a congregation comprising approximately 200-250 persons associated with Dara Sena assembled in front of the District Jail, Kendujhar in connection with the proposed release of the convict, during which provocative slogans were reportedly raised,” says the proceeding copy of SSRB’s August 31, 2026 meeting.Two senior Leh leaders express concern over ‘protest marches’; ask Kargil and Leh bodies to follow May 2025 agreementTwo senior regional leaders from Ladakh’s Leh, Tsering Samphel and Rigzin Spalbar, have expressed concern over protest marches proposed to demand Statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. They are instead pushing for elections to local hill councils in newly created districts. “We are strongly against holding any padyatra (walk) or protest in Leh while formal talks are proceeding as a follow-up to the agreement consensually signed by ourselves. Such actions at this juncture will only weaken our collective negotiating strength. The satisfactory sixth meeting with the MHA (Union Ministry of Home Affairs) at New Delhi must be followed up with sincerity to take it to its logical conclusion,” Mr. Spalbar, former chairperson of the Ladakh Hill Development Council-Leh, and Mr. Samphel, former president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, said.The move comes against the backdrop of the ongoing ‘Martyrs Month’ being observed in Ladakh to remember the four civilians who died during protests in Leh in September 2025. Both the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance support the first death anniversary remembrance meetings. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has also backed the agitational route to pressurise New Delhi in meeting promises made during the May 22 and September 9, 2025 talks between the Union government and the representatives from Ladakh.Punjab villager death: Congress Sachin Pilot, Partap Bajwa detained during protest against CheemaCongress AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab Sachin Pilot, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and other party leaders were detained by police on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) during a protest to demand the removal of Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the alleged death by suicide of a Dalit man. The protesters, who also demanded an independent probe into the incident, tried to march towards the official residence of Mr. Cheema and force their way through barricades, but were met with water cannons.Gulzar Singh, who hailed from Dirba in Sangrur district, died by suicide on September 7. . His family has alleged that he was harassed and subjected to casteist slurs for questioning Mr. Cheema about the supply of drugs in his area at an event in Dirba the day before. Addressing protesters outside the Punjab Congress headquarters here ahead of the march, Mr. Pilot lashed out at the AAP government over Singh’s alleged death by suicide.Maratha quota stir: Days after cops deny him protest permission, defiant Jarange leaves for MumbaiUndeterred by the police’s denial of permission to stage a protest in Mumbai, fasting Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange left for the Maharashtra capital on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) morning from Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. Mumbai Police earlier denied permission to Mr. Jarange, who has been on a hunger strike for the last 17 days demanding OBC quota for Maratha community members with Kunbi caste genealogies, to take the protest to Azad Maidan, citing law and order concerns during the ongoing Ganesh festival.Though defiant, Mr. Jarange tweaked his earlier plan to mobilise Maratha community members from various parts of Maharashtra to Mumbai and decided to go with a select group of 5-10 associates amid tight security.Seven former Australian cricket skippers urge Australian FM to raise concerns over Imran Khan’s detentionSeven former Australian cricket skippers have written to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to raise humanitarian concerns over the detention of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Cricinfo reported.The signatories to the letter sent to the minister are Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, who have clarified that they are writing “not as diplomats or political figures, but as former captains who felt compelled to speak up”. In the letter, “the group makes clear it takes no position on the legal or political case against Mr. Khan”, describing that as a matter for Pakistan alone.Gurugram biker hit-and-run case: Accused arrested, attempt-to-murder charge addedGurugram Police on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) arrested Kalyan Bainsla, the driver accused of fleeing after hitting a woman biker on Golf Course Road, and added an attempt-to-murder charge to the case after analysing CCTV footage of the incident, Gurugram ACP Abhilaksh Joshi told The Hindu. Mr. Bainsla was allegedly arrested in Rajgarh, Rajasthan and is being brought back to Gurugram. The case was registered at the Sector 56 police station after a video showing the collision went viral on social media on Monday (September 14, 2026). The police had taken suo motu cognisance of the footage and launched an investigation.During the investigation, the police examined CCTV footage from the area and, based on their findings, added Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to attempt to murder, to the FIR, Mr. Joshi said. Meanwhile the victim Sia approached the police station with a written complaint on Monday (September 14, 2026) night. The provision prescribes imprisonment of up to 10 years, according to the police.BJP using ‘backdoor route’ to implement UCC, should legislate in Parliament: Omar AbdullahQuestioning the move to use the “back-door entry”, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) said the BJP should implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) by legislating over it in the Parliament rather than pushing it through BJP-ruled States.“The government should not take the backdoor route and should instead bring the Bill before the Parliament. If you have numbers, bring it to the Parliament. Why are you doing this through different States?” asked Mr. Abdullah. He also flagged that several National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies were “opposed to the idea of the UCC”. “Not all the NDA allies are in favour of the proposal. I don’t think they will be able to pass this in the Parliament. That is why they are taking the [BJP-ruled States] path,” he said.J&K Admin. issues eviction notices in Srinagar’s high-end market of Lal Chowk, Kara Nagar against Nazool land occupantsThe J&K Administration has issued eviction notices to several occupants of Nazool land, a government property allotted on lease, in Srinagar district that includes the iconic building of the Mohi-ud-Din Trust in the Polo View commercial centre.“The material produced does not establish the existence of any subsisting lease or an order of renewal/extension from the competent authority. Now, therefore, in exercise of the power’s conferred by Section (1) of the J&K Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1988, I, being the Estates Officer under the Act, hereby order the eviction of the Mohi-ud-Din Trust, Residency Road, Srinagar from the aforesaid public premises,” reads the eviction notice, issued by the Tehsildar, Srinagar.Lawrence Bishnoi’s associate deported from Canada, arrested by Punjab PoliceA close associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was taken into custody at the IGI Airport in Delhi on Tuesday after being deported from Canada, Punjab Police said. The arrest of Karamveer Singh by Punjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) is being seen as a major breakthrough against transnational organised crime.“Karamveer Singh had provided logistical support and a hideout to Anmol Bishnoi in the #USA. He was wanted in FIR registered at PS (police station) State Crime, SAS Nagar, under relevant sections of the IPC, Arms Act and Passport Act. A Look Out Circular (LOC) was initiated by AGTF Punjab on 03.09.2026,” Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X. Anmol Bishnoi is Lawrence Bishnoi’s younger brother. Singh has a criminal history involving cases related to murder, attempt to murder, robbery, extortion, Arms Act offences and other criminal activities, the DGP said. He said further investigation is underway to uncover his wider criminal network and activities.No charges on UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000; govt yet to decide on MDR for higher-value paymentsThe government has directed banks and payment system providers not to levy charges on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions of up to ₹2,000 or on payments made through RuPay debit cards. However, the government has not specified whether charges would be applicable to transactions above ₹2,000, to be paid by merchants. So far, there has been no charge on UPI transactions, irrespective of the amount.As per a gazette notification dated September 14, no bank or system provider would impose, whether directly or indirectly, any charge on a person making or receiving a payment through a RuPay debit card or UPI transaction of up to ₹2,000. As per a gazette notification dated September 14, no bank or system provider would impose, whether directly or indirectly, any charge on a person making or receiving a payment through a RuPay debit card or UPI transaction of up to ₹2,000.