Kolkata: A controversy erupted in West Bengal after a history question paper at the state-run Vidyasagar University described Indian revolutionaries as “terrorists,” triggering strong political reactions and forcing the institute to issue a public apology, calling it a “printing mistake.”

Reacting to it, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s grandnephew, Chandra Kumar Bose, told PTI Videos, “To call revolutionaries — who laid down their lives for the country’s freedom — as terrorists is an act of sacrilege and demanded strict action against those responsible for preparing the question paper.

The contentious reference appeared in question 12 of the sixth semester BA Honours history exam (in Bengali), which asked students to name three district magistrates of Midnapore “killed by terrorists” during British rule. The university later acknowledged the error, attributing it to a proofreading lapse.

“It was a printing mistake that went unnoticed during proofreading,” Vice Chancellor Dipak Kar said on Friday.

“Once the paper was circulated, there was no time to make corrections. I have asked the controller of examinations to submit a detailed report,” he added.

The three slain magistrates referred were James Peddie, Robert Douglas and Bernard Berge, who were gunned down in a span of three years for their tyranny in then Midnapore district.

Bose said, “Distortion of history of our freedom struggle has been happening for a long time. But to call Khudiram Bose and other revolutionaries, who sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom, as terrorists cannot be accepted.”

He added that stringent action must be taken against the faculty and people who were in charge of drafting the question paper.

“History must be told in the right perspective and the younger generation must be made aware about the right picture of our freedom struggle. They should know the heroic battle of INA and the leadership of Netaji,” Bose commented in this context.

Academic Pabitra Sarkar condemned the error, saying, “It is unthinkable in independent India to refer to youths who fought British oppression as ‘terrorists”, a term used by the colonial rulers.”

Leader of opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari in a post on X described the terrorist reference as “absolutely outrageous.”

“The administrative authorities of Vidyasagar University have once again insulted our revered freedom fighters by labeling the brave revolutionaries of Medinipur as ‘militants’ and ‘terrorists’ in the 2025 History Honours sixth semester question paper,” he said.

“This is not an isolated mistake but a deliberate distortion of our history, repeating the same disgraceful error from 2023 under the watch of Dr. Nirmal Kumar Mahato, Head of the History Department and a known TMC affiliate in WBCUPA (West Bengal College and University Professors Association); TMC’s political organisation comprising professors,” Adhikari added.

“Shockingly, no action has been taken against Dr. Mahato despite his repeated oversight failures. Worse still, his stature has risen, he was promoted to Joint Secretary of WBCUPA after the 2023 blunder. For the unversed; the tyrannical British District Magistrates; Burge (1933), Peddie (1931), and Douglas (1932) were targeted by Indian freedom fighters. Peddie was killed by Bimal Dasgupta and Jyotijiban Ghosh,” the BJP leader posted.

The BJP leader questioned whether the elevation of Mahato an endorsement of TMC’s belief that “our freedom fighters were militants and terrorists.”

“The Vice Chancellor’s refusal to act only deepens the suspicion of political protectionism. This is a blow to every Indian who honours our Independence struggle. I demand immediate accountability, the removal of Dr. Mahato, and a thorough investigation into this institutional failure. Will TMC clarify if they stand by this shameful narrative?,” he said.

Mahato could not be contacted for his comments, while university sources described Adhikari’s remarks as “unfortunate.”

TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh distanced the party from the controversy, saying, “The questions were set by a few persons, not the education department. It needs to be investigated who approved the question paper.”

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty and Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also condemned the terminology, calling it “unthinkable and unimaginable in independent India” and held the TMC government accountable for allowing such a lapse under its watch.

Causing further embarrassment to the varsity, the BA Honours Political Science exam was cancelled on Friday after it was discovered that the question paper was “out of syllabus.” University authorities said fresh tests would be conducted next week.

Air India plane crashes moments after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport

New Delhi : Both switches feeding fuel to the two engines of Air India flight 171 were cut off followed by pilot confusion before the plane crashed in Ahmedabad, seconds after taking off, the first investigation report into the crash has revealed.

It said that one pilot asked why he had shut off the fuel, and the other responded he didn’t do it.

The crash on June 12 was the first fatal disaster involving a Boeing 787, killing a total of 260 people — all but one of the 242 people on board the aircraft died — when the plane ploughed into a medical college hostel.

The preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, released on Saturday, recommended no action for now for the operators of Boeing 787-8 planes.

At the time the aircraft took off, the co-pilot was flying the plane, while the captain was monitoring.

“The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 Knots IAS at about 08:08:42 UTC and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec,” the report said.

As per the report, the engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off.

“In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” it said.

The aircraft took off at 08:08:39 UTC (13:38:39 IST) and at about 08:09:05 UTC (13:39:05 IST) one of the pilots transmitted ‘MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY’.

“The ATCO (Air Traffic Controller) enquired about the call sign. ATCO did not get any response but observed the aircraft crashing outside the airport boundary and activated the emergency response,” the report said.

In the report of the fatal plane accident that happened in around 30 seconds after take off, AAIB also said fuel samples taken from bowsers and tanks used to refuel the aircraft were tested at the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) Lab and were found satisfactory.

The preliminary report was widely anticipated to throw more light on what could have led to the crash, which was one of the worst in India in decades, and also it was the first accident involving a Boeing 787 aircraft that resulted in hull loss.

The AAIB said the wreckage site activities, including drone photography/ videography have been completed and the wreckage has been moved to a secure area near the airport.

“Both engines were retrieved from the wreckage site and quarantined at a hangar in the airport. Components of interest for further examinations have been identified and quarantined,” it said.

According to the report, fuel samples taken from the bowsers and tanks used to refuel the aircraft were tested at the DGCA’s Lab and were found satisfactory.

“Very limited amount of fuel samples could be retrieved from the APU filter and Refuel/Jettison valve of left wing. The testing of these samples will be done at a suitable facility capable of carrying out the test with the limited available quantity,” it said.

The AAIB is gathering additional details based on initial leads and data downloaded from the forward Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) is being analysed.

“At this stage of investigation, there are no recommended actions to B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers,” the report said.

The plane that crashed was powered by GEnx-1B engines.

Statements of the witnesses and the surviving passenger have been obtained by the Investigators.

The complete analysis of post-mortem reports of the crew and the passengers is being undertaken to corroborate aeromedical findings with the engineering appreciation, the AAIB said.

The probe is continuing and the investigation team will review and examine additional evidence, records and information that is being sought from the stakeholders.

There were 230 passengers on board — 15 in the business class and 215, including two infants, in economy class.

The Pilot In Command (PIC) had more than 15,638 hours of flying experience while the first officer had over 3,403 hours of flying experience.

Air India on Saturday said it is working closely with regulators and other stakeholders, and will continue to cooperate with the authorities in the ongoing probe into the plane crash.

Boeing, in a statement, said it continues to support the investigation and Air India.

“We will defer to the AAIB to provide information about AI171, in adherence with the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization protocol known as Annex 13,” it added.

New Delhi: A four-storey building collapsed in the Welcome area of northeast Delhi on Saturday morning, and some people could be trapped under the rubble, police said.

Three people were pulled out from the rubble and rushed to a hospital as multiple agencies continued a rescue operation, they said.

“Some more people could be trapped under the rubble,” a senior police officer said.

“We received a call regarding a building collapse at 7 am. Multiple teams are working, including seven fire tenders. Further information is awaited,” the officer said.

The building collapsed when locals were out on their morning walks, many of whom acted as first responders and began trying to rescue those trapped before the fire officials arrived at the spot. With the help of the fire department later, three people were rescued.

Delhi Fire Service chief Atul Garg said a building collapsed in Gali No. 5 at Janta Colony close to Idgah road in Seelampur.

“A total of seven fire tenders rushed to the site. Three people were rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital. Search operation continues,” Garg said in a statement.

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said that the state government will soon unveil a new policy framework to address declining fertility rates and demographic imbalance.

Speaking at the Amaravati Summit on World Population Day on Friday, Naidu emphasised that population should be treated as the state’s greatest economic strength, not a burden.

“Population is the nation’s strongest economic asset. A robust policy on population growth will be introduced soon,” said Naidu, addressing the summit.

He observed that rising expenses are deterring young couples from having children, while Parliament seats may increase in the future, southern states could see reduced representation.

The CM recalled his earlier efforts promoting family planning and noted that today’s demographic trends call for a shift in focus from control to management of population growth.

“Before 2004, as CM, I incentivised family planning. We even brought a law disqualifying those with more than two children from contesting local body elections,” said Naidu.

He further said that today, there’s a need to amend the law to allow those with more than two children to contest, adding that a nation is not just about its land, regions, towns, or borders, it is about its people.

Naidu said that while developed nations struggle with aging populations, India’s youth advantage remains intact, though not guaranteed unless corrective policies are adopted quickly.

“Our youth population is shrinking while elderly numbers grow. To avoid a human resource crisis, we must encourage larger families,” said Naidu, addressing the summit.

Naidu launched a survey seeking public input on population policy, declaring, “Your voice is our policy guide,” and stressing the importance of aligning welfare with people’s preferences.

He expressed concern that while the global population is increasing, birth rates are declining, and the youth population is shrinking while the elderly population is increasing.

Naidu noted that nations like Japan, Hungary, and Singapore now offer cash, tax exemptions and housing benefits to families with more children.

He pointed out that the southern state’s fertility rate stands at 1.7, well below the replacement rate of 2.1, underscoring the urgency of reversing this trend.

Naidu also cited concerns over the fading of joint family systems, rising cost of living, and the changing outlook of youth, saying such factors must shape future family-centric policies.

Mentioning his recent visit to Kuppam, he shared an anecdote of a three-generation household as a model for societal stability and economic resilience.

Stressing gender equality, he said TDP governments have historically empowered women by giving from the gas cylinder scheme to property rights and representation in colleges and transport services.

Naidu maintained that India’s population advantage will hold only until 2047, urging policymakers to treat human capital as a long-term resource and not a short-term liability.

Faridabad A suspected cow vigilante allegedly involved in the Nasir-Junaid murders in Rajasthan allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a train on the Delhi-Agra railway track near Palwal, officials said on Tuesday.

Before his death, Lokesh Singla also recorded a video alleging that “harassment” by Bajrang Dal members caused him to kill himself. He sent the video message to his wife who later approached the police with a complaint, they said.

A purported last video of Singla has surfaced online.

The charred bodies of Nasir and Junaid were found in a vehicle on the Rajasthan-Haryana border on February 16 after they were allegedly abducted by some vigilantes who accused them of cow smuggling. Singla was one of the accused in the case.

Based on the wife’s complaint, police registered an FIR against three persons for abetment to suicide at the government railway police (GRP), Faridabad.

In the video, Singla said three people were threatening him. “They sent goons to chase me and threatened that I would be implicated in false cases. These are Bajrang Dal state convenor from Hathin, Bharat Bhushan, Harkesh Yadav and Anil Kaushik. Strict action should be taken by police against all of them,” he said.

In her complaint, Singla’s wife Damyanti said the three men had been harassing Singla for a long time. She said her husband was a social worker from Bichhor in Nuh district.

The three men, she alleged, followed him and spied on him. They came to their house and blackmailed him and issued threats to implicate him in a false case, she said.

They also threatened to ruin her husband’s life and kill him, Damyanti added in her complaint.

“My husband was scared of them and he spoke of this to me many times. My husband was broken from the inside, due to which he committed suicide on the Delhi-Agra railway track on July 5 at around 8.30 pm.

“Before committing suicide, he sent a video from his mobile to me,” she said.

He mentioned the threats in the video and sent her a message, requesting the administration to deliver justice, Damyanti said.

Hyderabad: Sigachi Industries Ltd on Wednesday said it lost 40 of its team members in the recent explosion and fire at its Pashamylaram plant. The company also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore each to the kin of the deceased in the deadly incident.

According to the government figures, the toll remained at 36 as of Wednesday morning.

“It is with anguish that we share details of the accident that occurred at the Sigachi Industries facility in Pashamylaram, Telangana, resulting in the loss of 40 valued team members and one that left over 33 injured,” the company said in a statement.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday said the state government will engage with the management of the firm to ensure that a compensation of Rs 1 crore is paid to each kin of those who died in the horrific accident.

The CM also said those who are seriously injured will receive Rs 10 lakh, while those who are injured but can resume work after some recovery will be provided Rs 5 lakh.

The company further said since the time of the accident, the firm have been coordinating the emergency response, family support, and extending cooperation with the investigation and compliance efforts.

“Sigachi Industries Ltd has committed to an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 1 crore (each) to the families of the deceased, while those injured will receive full medical and rehabilitation support,” it said.

Sigahci also clarified that the accident was not caused by a reactor explosion at the plant as mentioned in sections of the media.

The company said it will continue to send updates as it receives information from the investigations while the plant operations will remain temporarily suspended for approximately 90 days.

The Sangareddy police, based on a complaint by a family member of one of the victims, on Monday registered an FIR against the factory management in connection with the explosion under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempting to commit culpable homicide), and 117 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt) of BNS.