Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was released from the central jail in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur on Saturday, six months after he was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) for allegedly inciting violence in Ladakh.. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk walks free after home ministry’s release decision (PTI). An official said Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, received him as he walked free hours after the Union home ministry revoked his detention. After the paperwork, Wangchuk left with Angmo in a private vehicle around 1pm.. Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, received him as he walked free. (Sourced). Wangchuk, 59, was accused of misleading people through provocative mention of Arab Spring-style protests. The Union home ministry revoked his detention with “immediate effect,” citing the need to facilitate “constructive and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders.”. The release came days before the Supreme Court is set to hear on March 17 a habeas corpus petition of Angmo over the activist’s incarceration under the 1980 law, which allows detention for up to 12 months without trial.. Wangchuk was detained on September 26, two days after the protests over demands for statehood for Ladakh turned violent, leaving four people dead and 45 injured. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also launched a preliminary inquiry against an institute that Wangchuk founded.. On February 25, activists staged a demonstration in Jodhpur seeking Wangchuk’s release, prompting police to put up barricades on the road leading to the Central Jail.. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot welcomed Wangchuk’s release but said the episode raised serious questions about the functioning of the Narendra Modi-led government. In a post on X, Gehlot said it was ironic that Wangchuk, who once supported Modi’s policies, was sent to Jodhpur jail under the stringent NSA when he raised his voice for Ladakh’s rights and environmental protection.. Gehlot questioned how a person described as a threat to national security a few months ago could suddenly be released now. He wondered whether this meant there was no evidence against him.. Gehlot asked who would account for the 170 days Wangchuk spent in detention and why he was arrested in the first place. He questioned whether the political interests of the ruling party determined the definition of national security.. Gehlot said such “convenient use of laws with an authoritarian mindset” was condemnable and a serious blow to the credibility of democratic institutions. He added that the people were watching these double standards. 

 Amid growing public concern over fuel availability during the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, the petroleum ministry on Saturday issued an advisory urging citizens not to panic-buy petrol or diesel.. ‘Do not take petrol in loose containers’: Govt issues safety advisory as fuel fears grow (Representative image). In a statement, the petroleum and natural gas ministry said that fuel supplies across the country remain stable and sufficient. “Petrol and diesel are adequately available at retail outlets across the country,” the ministry said, advising consumers not to take or store fuel in loose or inappropriate containers as it could pose serious safety risks.. The ministry reiterated that all petrol pumps have adequate availability of petrol and diesel, and warned that any violation of safety rules at retail outlets would invite strict action.. Safety rules tightened at petrol pumps. The advisory came after authorities found a violation at a fuel station in Tamil Nadu, another statement added.. “It has come to notice that at one retail outlet in Tamil Nadu, petrol was being taken in a loose container, which is unsafe and not advisable,” the ministry said, again urging consumers not to store petrol or other fuels in loose or unsuitable containers due to the risk involved.. The ministry added that the petrol pump involved has already been penalised. “The concerned petrol pump has been suspended, and appropriate action has been taken,” it said, stressing that all retail outlets and dealers have been instructed to strictly follow safety guidelines while dispensing fuel.. Energy minister assures no shortage of fuel. Amid speculation about supply disruptions due to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, earlier on Thursday, Union petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri also sought to calm concerns in Parliament.. Addressing the Lok Sabha, Puri gave a “full” assurance that India is not facing any fuel shortage.. “There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, ATF or fuel oil,” he said, adding that “the availability of petrol, diesel, aviation and fuel oil is fully assured.”. Puri acknowledged that the ongoing conflict in West Asia has created an unprecedented global situation, but said India would manage the consequences.. “What the world is going through currently is something it has not faced in history,” the minister said, adding that India has no role in the conflict but must still navigate its consequences.. According to the minister, India has been able to secure enough crude oil supplies despite the disruption.. Puri credited diplomatic outreach by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring the country’s energy security. He said India had secured crude oil volumes that “exceed what the disrupted Strait could have delivered in the same period.”. LPG supply concerns. The minister also addressed reports of cooking gas shortages affecting restaurants in some parts of the country.. Seeking to re 

 Amid growing public concern over fuel availability during the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, the petroleum ministry on Saturday issued an advisory urging citizens not to panic-buy petrol or diesel.. ‘Do not take petrol in loose containers’: Govt issues safety advisory as fuel fears grow (Representative image). In a statement, the petroleum and natural gas ministry said that fuel supplies across the country remain stable and sufficient. “Petrol and diesel are adequately available at retail outlets across the country,” the ministry said, advising consumers not to take or store fuel in loose or inappropriate containers as it could pose serious safety risks.. The ministry reiterated that all petrol pumps have adequate availability of petrol and diesel, and warned that any violation of safety rules at retail outlets would invite strict action.. Safety rules tightened at petrol pumps. The advisory came after authorities found a violation at a fuel station in Tamil Nadu, another statement added.. “It has come to notice that at one retail outlet in Tamil Nadu, petrol was being taken in a loose container, which is unsafe and not advisable,” the ministry said, again urging consumers not to store petrol or other fuels in loose or unsuitable containers due to the risk involved.. The ministry added that the petrol pump involved has already been penalised. “The concerned petrol pump has been suspended, and appropriate action has been taken,” it said, stressing that all retail outlets and dealers have been instructed to strictly follow safety guidelines while dispensing fuel.. Energy minister assures no shortage of fuel. Amid speculation about supply disruptions due to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, earlier on Thursday, Union petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri also sought to calm concerns in Parliament.. Addressing the Lok Sabha, Puri gave a “full” assurance that India is not facing any fuel shortage.. “There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, ATF or fuel oil,” he said, adding that “the availability of petrol, diesel, aviation and fuel oil is fully assured.”. Puri acknowledged that the ongoing conflict in West Asia has created an unprecedented global situation, but said India would manage the consequences.. “What the world is going through currently is something it has not faced in history,” the minister said, adding that India has no role in the conflict but must still navigate its consequences.. According to the minister, India has been able to secure enough crude oil supplies despite the disruption.. Puri credited diplomatic outreach by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring the country’s energy security. He said India had secured crude oil volumes that “exceed what the disrupted Strait could have delivered in the same period.”. LPG supply concerns. The minister also addressed reports of cooking gas shortages affecting restaurants in some parts of the country.. Seeking to re 

 Guests had arrived, the stage was set, and the marriage ceremony was about to begin when police stormed the venue and arrested the groom from the mandap. It might sound like a scene from a film, but this is how drama unfolded at a wedding venue in Bhopal on Wednesday as the cops arrested the groom, an alleged gangster, right before the wedding rituals.. Photo for representation (PTI). Also read: Akasa Air also hikes fares, adds ₹199–1,300 surcharge as West Asia war sets oil prices on fire. The situation forced the bride to go to the Koh-e-Fiza police station and plead with the cops to release her fiance at least to complete the wedding rituals, NDTV reported.. “Sahab, my life will be destroyed. What’s my fault? I didn’t know about the crimes he committed. Guests are waiting at home. Haldi and other rituals have been done,” the bride was quoted as saying.. The arrested groom was identified as Akash Neelkanth, the alleged leader of a gang. Police also arrested his associates Rajamji Thakur, Abhishek Upadhyay, Abhishek Meena, Neeraj Khange, and Amit Oswal.. Neelkanth, alias Bhura, is said to be the leader of a gang that goes by the name ‘Illegal Gang’ in Bhopal that has over 50 young men as its members. The members of the gang reportedly have the word “illegal” tattooed on their necks. The gang has been active since 2018.. Also read: Cheap drones that fly close to ground, Russian tactics: How Iran is standing up to US, Israel. Neelkanth has 31 cases registered against him and faces serious charges like murder.. He spent 18 months in jail in connection with murder of BJP Yuva Morcha Mandal vice-president Surendra Kushwah was killed on March 18, 2024. Neelkanth, the main accused in the case, was released on bail just four months ago.. Also read: ‘Spent months on bullying, now begging’: Iran on US waiver for India to buy Russian oil. However, he was arrested on the day of his marriage in an extortion case as the gang had allegedly kidnapped a 26-year-old priest and thrashed him in a flat in Eidgah Hills area as they demanded ₹8 lakh. The kidnapped man was threatened with a false rape case in case he refused to pay, as per the case. The gang reportedly forced the priest’s brother to transfer 50,000 online and pressured his family to arrange the remaining amount in installments.. The kidnapped priest managed to escape the flat on March 11 and approached the police. Police acted quickly and arrested Neelkanth when he was about to get married. 

 Citing a “significant increase in the price of aviation turbine fuel, driven by evolving geopolitical developments”, another Indian airline, Akasa Air, announced a hike in fare on Saturday. With effect from March 15, on all new bookings, it will introduce a fuel surcharge ranging from ₹199 to 1,300 on domestic and international routes, a spokesperson said.. An Akasa Air passenger aircraft taxis on the tarmac at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. (Reuters Photo). “This will not be applicable for any bookings made prior to 00:01 hrs on March 15, 2026. The fuel surcharge will be applied per sector and will vary based on the duration of the flight,” they clarified, adding, “We will continue to closely monitor the operating environment and review the fuel surcharge periodically.”. This comes as almost all leading Indian airlines have levied or hiked fuel surcharges as the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US-Israel bloc sends aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices spiraling.. Akasa Air holds approximately 5% of the Indian aviation market share and operates about two dozen domestic destinations and some international routes focused on the Middle East/West Asia region, including flights to Kuwait, Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi.. IndiGo, India’s biggest carrier by market share, made the fare-hike move on Friday.. The global prices of ATF, which typically accounts for 40% of an airline’s operating expenses, has seen a “sharp surge” since early March 2026 due to regional supply interruptions.. Airfares going up | List and details. Akasa Air has said its tickets will now have additional charge of ₹199 to 1,300. That comes into effect for tickets booked starting March 15.. IndiGo said on Friday it will begin levying a sector-based fuel charge on all domestic and international tickets starting March 14. The sector-wise charges for domestic and Indian subcontinent tickets are ₹425, going up to ₹2,300 for Europe, with other regions in brackets in between.. Air India and AI Express announced a phased rollout of surcharges that began on March 12, 2026. A surcharge of ₹399 now applies to domestic and SAARC routes on its flights. West Asia/Middle East routes attract a $10 surcharge, while Southeast Asia charges rose from $40 to $60. Starting March 18, surcharges on long-haul routes will increase — for Europe it will rise to $125, while North America and Australia will jump to $200. There are future adjustments are planned for Far East markets, including Japan and South Korea, Air India has said.. Budget carrier SpiceJet has warned that airlines have little choice but to impose surcharges if oil remains high. Founder Ajay Singh has urged the government to reduce excise duties and VAT on jet fuel, noting that prices even at $90 per barrel are becoming unsustainable. AirAsia had already confirmed it would raise fares.. Reasons for airfares spiking globally. Jet fuel prices have roughly doubled since the conflict began on Feb