Guwahati, May 16: The freight business of the Northeast Frontier Railway continued to maintain strong momentum during April 2026, registering significant loading achievements across its divisions while introducing measures to boost trade and commodity movement in the region.

In a major operational initiative, Rahamatpur and Pawakhali stations under Katihar Division were opened for handling outward and inward goods traffic, including domestic and Bangladesh-bound consignments, with effect from April 16.

The railway authorities also extended the exemption of Busy Season Surcharge on bamboo traffic transported in covered wagons for another year from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027, aimed at encouraging bamboo transportation and supporting allied industries.

According to officials, the Alipurduar Division loaded nine rakes comprising 378 wagons of potato from Dhupguri station to New Tinsukia and Salchapra stations, generating freight revenue of Rs 1.61 crore.

Under Katihar Division, three rakes consisting of 126 wagons of maize were loaded from Purnea Junction and Jalargarh stations, earning freight revenue of Rs 0.33 crore.

The Lumding Division recorded substantial freight activity across multiple commodity segments.

A total of 1684 wagons of stone chips were booked from Moinarband, Panchgram, Ditokcherra, Bihara, Molvom and Sukhovi stations to destinations including Jirania, Sabroom, Belonia, Ambassa, Udaipur and Sairang, generating freight revenue of Rs 7.64 crore.

Additionally, 1986 wagons of cement were loaded from Tetelia, Star, Lanka, Salchapra and Kamalajari stations to destinations such as Dimapur, Katihar, New Tinsukia, Jorhat Town, New Jalpaiguri, New Bongaigaon, Rangiya, Jirania, Sairang and Falakata, earning freight revenue of Rs 10.96 crore.

Officials said 400 wagons of Petroleum Oil and Lubricants (POL) were also booked during the period, generating revenue of Rs 3.41 crore.

In the bamboo sector, 20 wagons of bamboo chips were loaded from Lamsakhang station under Lumding Division, earning revenue of Rs 0.18 crore.

NFR said it remains focused on strengthening freight infrastructure, improving customer-oriented policies and ensuring efficient transportation services to support economic growth and industrial development across the Northeast and adjoining regions.

New Delhi, May 16: The Narcotics Control Bureau has busted an international drug syndicate involved in the trafficking of Captagon and seized approximately 227.7 kg of the “jihadi drug” worth Rs 182 crore, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Saturday.

The success was announced by Home Minister Amit Shah on X. He lauded the agency for seizing the first-ever consignment of Captagon.

Captagon is the street name historically linked to fenethylline, a synthetic stimulant developed in the 1960s which earned the sobriquet of the “jihadi drug” due to repeated allegations and intelligence inputs linking its abuse and trafficking with extremist and conflict-zone networks operating in parts of West Asia, sources said.

The terminology emerged because the stimulant effects of the drug allegedly enabled users to remain awake for extended periods, suppress fear and exhaustion, increase aggression and risk-taking behaviour, and sustain prolonged combat-like activity under stressful conditions.

In his post on X, Shah said the Modi government has resolved to make a “Drug-Free India”.

“Glad to share that through ‘Operation RAGEPILL’, our agencies have achieved the first-ever seizure of Captagon, the so-called ‘Jihadi Drug’, worth Rs 182 crore,” Shah said.

“The busting of the drug consignment destined for the Middle East and the arrest of a foreign national stand out as shining examples of our commitment to zero tolerance against drugs,” he said.

“I repeat we will clamp down on every gram of drugs entering India or leaving the country using our territory as the transit route. Kudos to the brave and vigilant warriors of the NCB. @narcoticsbureau,” the minister said.

Sharing the details of the operation, the MHA said in a statement that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) received the information from a foreign drug law enforcement agency that India is being used as a transit route for the trafficking of Captagon.

A house was identified in Neb Sarai, New Delhi, and searches were conducted on May 11, which led to the recovery of about 31.5 Kg Captagon tablets carefully concealed in a commercial chapati-cutting machine. Preliminary investigation suggests that the machine was intended for export to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the statement said.

The said house in Neb Sarai had been rented by a Syrian national, who had entered India on a tourist visa on November 15, 2024. His visa expired on January 12, 2025, and he was illegally staying in India, the MHA said.

His questioning led to the recovery of about 196.2 kg of Captagon powder from a container in the Container Facilitation Station (CFS) at Mundra, Gujarat, on May 14.

“The container was imported from Syria with sheep wool as the declared consignment. A thorough search of the container led to the recovery of 3 bags containing 196.2 kg of Captagon powder,” the statement said.

“Preliminary investigation has revealed that the seized consignment was intended for transshipment to the Gulf region, particularly Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Middle Eastern countries, where Captagon abuse has emerged as a serious law enforcement and public health concern,” it said.

The MHA said a total of 227.7 kg of Captagon tablets and powder were seized under Operation Ragepill, with an estimated value of approximately Rs 182 crore in destination markets across the Gulf and Middle East.

According to the statement, Captagon mainly contains fenetylline and amphetamine, both of which are psychotropic substances under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

New Delhi, May 16: New Delhi on Saturday rejected the latest award issued by the so-called Court of Arbitration on the Indus Waters Treaty dispute with Pakistan, asserting that the tribunal itself was “illegally constituted” and that all its proceedings and decisions were “null and void”.

Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the tribunal had issued what it termed an award on “maximum pondage supplemental to the award on issues of general interpretation of the Indus Waters Treaty” on May 15.

“The illegally constituted so-called Court of Arbitration (CoA) has, on 15 May 2026, issued what it termed an award concerning maximum pondage supplemental to the award on issues of general interpretation of the Indus Waters Treaty,” spokesperson said.

“India categorically rejects the present so-called award, just as it has firmly rejected all prior pronouncements of the illegally constituted CoA,” he added.

Reiterating India’s long-standing stand on the matter, the MEA spokesperson said, “India has never recognised the establishment of this so-called CoA. Any proceeding, award, or decision issued by it is null and void. India’s decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance remains in force.”

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, governs the sharing of waters of six rivers of the Indus basin,  Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The Permanent Court of Arbitration, headquartered at the Peace Palace in The Hague, had constituted the Court of Arbitration to examine disputes linked to the treaty. However, New Delhi has consistently refused to participate in the proceedings, arguing that the arbitration mechanism violates the dispute resolution framework of the treaty. New Delhi has repeatedly maintained that any pronouncement made by the tribunal lacks legal validity and is not binding on India.

New Delhi, May 16: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday issued a strongly worded clarification on his ‘parasites’ remarks, saying he was “pained” by media reports that suggested he criticised youth.

“I am pained to read how a section of the media has misquoted my oral observations made during the hearing of a frivolous case yesterday,” the CJI said in a statement.

Kant emphasised that his remarks were specifically directed at individuals entering the legal profession through “fake and bogus degrees” and were “misquoted by a section of the media.”

The clarification follows a controversy during a hearing on Friday, when the CJI used words like “parasites” and “cockroaches” while pulling up a lawyer for his plea seeking senior designation.

“What I had specifically criticised were those who have entered professions like the Bar (legal profession) with the aid of fake and bogus degrees. Similar persons have sneaked into the media, social media, and other noble professions as well, and hence, they are like parasites.

“It is totally baseless to suggest that I criticised the youth of our nation. Not only am I proud of our present and future human resource, but every youth of India inspires me. It is not an exaggeration to say that Indian youth have great regard and respect for me, and I too see them as the pillars of a developed India,” the chief justice said about his remarks.