Morning Digest: At least 19 dead, 25 others injured in Kolkata pandal stampede; CJP’s Dipke released after signing peace bond, and more

At least 19 dead, 25 others injured in Kolkata pandal stampede

At least 19 people died, and 25 others were injured in a stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday (October 18, 2026). West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who rushed to the Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, where the victims were taken, also announced that his government will provide ₹25 lakh and a Group D govt job for the family of each deceased. He said police detained Chorbagan Durga Puja organisers, private security guards, and on-duty staff for questioning. “As of now, 19 people have died, and 25 are undergoing treatment,” Mr. Adhikari said.

Delhi anti-CEC protests: Dipke released after signing peace bond, sporadic protests continue

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, who was placed under preventive arrest by the Delhi Police, was released by a Delhi court on Saturday (October 17, 2026) after signing a peace bond, even as sporadic protests, led by women activists, continued for the eighth day against the Chief Election Commissioner and police action.

Congress appoints 208 observers to oversee its nationwide Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao campaign against SIR

The Congress has appointed 208 party leaders as observers to coordinate and monitor its nationwide Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao (Save Your Vote, Save the Country) campaign against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, signalling its intent to sustain the agitation against alleged vote theft.

SC grants bail to former R.G. Kar College principal Sandip Ghosh in financial irregularities case

The Supreme Court has granted bail to former R.G. Kar Medical College Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh, accused of being involved in financial irregularities at the Kolkata college and manipulation of merit scores to accommodate undeserving candidates.

Supreme Court probe panel to prioritise use of pellet gun, harassment of female protesters during July 20 march to Parliament

The Supreme Court-appointed panel to investigate the incidents of violence at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and places outside the national capital in July during the NEET paper leak protests will prioritise matters related to the “use of pellet guns, targeted violence and harassment of female protesters, and excessive violence and destruction of property occasioned on either side”.

Private jet firm in Ajit Pawar crash flagged for maintenance and pilot-training lapses in earlier 2023 accident

An investigation into a 2023 private-jet crash involving the same charter company whose aircraft later crashed, killing Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has found systemic lapses in maintenance, pilot training and oversight by aviation regulator DGCA.

Ahead of Tarique Rahman’s Japan visit, Tokyo envisions connectivity for India’s northeast, Bay of Bengal region

Ahead of Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s expected month-end Japan visit, diplomatic sources in Tokyo have told The Hindu that they are planning to create an ‘industrial value chain’ that will connect northeast Indian states with the Bay of Bengal region via Chittagong’s Matarbari deep-sea port that Japan has been funding.

France demands Israel act after ‘criminal violence’ against visiting mayor

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot demanded on Saturday (October 17, 2026) that Israel crack down on “criminal violence” after a French mayor was beaten by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Bernard Baudoux, mayor of the northern French town of Aulnoye-Aymeries, “was violently assaulted by extremist settlers”, Barrot said on X.