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A 32-year-old man from Rajasthan who travelled to Bengaluru to retrieve his missing SUV was allegedly assaulted and robbed, police said on Thursday.

The victim, Chandra Prakash, a resident of Jodhpur, had lent his SUV to his friend Mahendra Gujjar over a year ago on the assurance that it would be returned within a few weeks, they said.

When the vehicle was not returned, he lodged a complaint with the local police in Jodhpur last year, but no progress was made.

According to police, Prakash then allegedly used a mobile application to track his vehicle’s location and found that it was being driven in Bengaluru. On February 23, he reached the city with a spare key, located the SUV parked by the roadside in east Bengaluru and drove it away after unlocking it.

Around 11.10 pm, as he neared Bommanahalli Circle, three men on a two-wheeler intercepted him. When he questioned them, an argument ensued and the trio allegedly assaulted him with an iron rod and a helmet, a senior police officer said.

The accused allegedly robbed him of two mobile phones and fled with the SUV. Prakash sustained injuries and was shifted to a hospital for treatment, he said.

Based on his complaint, Mangilal Choudary (40), a businessman from Rajasthan, was arrested in connection with the incident, police said, adding that efforts are being made to nab the other two suspects.

During interrogation, Choudary told police he had extended a friendly loan to an acquaintance who defaulted and that the SUV was given as security, police said.

Gujjar had allegedly borrowed money from acquaintances and passed the vehicle to a friend of Choudary, who later gave it to him. The SUV and the two mobile phones have been recovered, they added.

The Maharashtra government on Thursday told the legislative assembly that the population of stray dogs has increased significantly across rural and urban parts of the state in the last six years.

As many as 30 lakh dog-bite cases were reported and 30 persons died of rabies infection in the state between 2021-23, the government said, without providing any data about the present number of stray dogs.

Replying to a question, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the rise in stray dog numbers has been observed particularly in Ahilyanagar, Vasai-Virar, Sangli, Bhiwandi, Raigad, Jalna and Mumbai.

Following the directions issued by the Supreme Court in August 2025 regarding feeding of stray dogs in public places and sterilisation and vaccination drives, the Urban Development Department and the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department issued necessary instructions in November 2025 to all urban and rural local bodies in the state, he said.

Directions have also been issued for implementation of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, to ensure sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs across Maharashtra, Shinde added.

A lookout notice was issued against YouTuber Anvesh in connection with a case booked against him for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Hindu deities, police said on Thursday.

The case was registered against the YouTuber in December last year following a complaint by actress and BJP leader Karate Kalyani, who accused Anvesh, popularly known as Prapancha Yatrikudu, of making repeated derogatory, defamatory, and provocative statements against Hindu society, Hindu religious beliefs, revered Hindu deities, culture, and traditions, with the deliberate intention of creating communal hatred and provoking violence.

The lookout notice was reportedly issued as Anvesh is outside India.

To promote responsible driving and prevent road mishaps, the government is planning to introduce a grade-based driving license system with stricter provisions, including license cancellation for certain traffic rule violations.

Every year, around 1.8 lakh people die across the country due to factors such as using a mobile phone while driving, overspeeding, wrong-side driving and drunken driving, Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said.

Explaining the graded point system in driving license concept, Gadkari said some points may be deducted for traffic offences. When all the points are deducted, the driving license of the offender may be suspended for six months or even cancelled for repeat offences.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday (February 26) alleged that US President Donald Trump had used the Epstein files to threaten Prime Minister Narendra Modi into signing a trade deal that would “sacrifice” Indian farmers.

The Leader of the Opposition was speaking at a farmers’ convention in Peravoor, Kannur district.

He said the simple fact that farmers are the foundation of India is not understood by the government.

Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister had signed a deal with the US President that was “like digging the foundation”.

The Congress leader claimed that no previous prime minister would have allowed American farmers to sell products such as soybeans, vegetables and fruits in India.

Youth Congress activists staged a protest on Thursday (February 26) after a jackfruit fell on the head of an elderly man at the Pathanamthitta District General Hospital.

Officials at the hospital said the incident occurred on Wednesday when Gangadharan Nair (78) of Omalloor reached the hospital.

According to officials, Nair was waiting under a tree near the casualty wing when a jackfruit fell on him.

Nair, who briefly lost consciousness, was immediately attended to by casualty doctors and admitted for further tests.

Hospital authorities said the tree was maintained by the Social Forestry wing of the Forest Department and that a request had been made earlier for its removal.

Nair’s condition is stable and he is likely to be discharged soon, an official said.

Youth Congress activists carried out a protest at the hospital on Thursday morning following the incident.

Youth Congress leader Nahas Pathanamthitta said the incident reflected how the hospital was being managed, alleging that patients coming for treatment were ending up injured.

"This is not an isolated incident. Even during construction work, people were injured after materials fell on them," he said.

He added that, as part of the protest, the Youth Congress would soon distribute helmets to patients and hospital staff for their safety.