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Locals in West Bengal's Murshidabad blocked National Highway 12 and burnt tyres on Friday (January 12) to protest against the alleged attacks on migrant workers from the district in other states, disrupting vehicular movement on the thoroughfare, police said.

The highway was blocked at Maheshpur in the Beldanga 1 area since 9 am, triggering traffic snarls on the arterial road connecting the northern part of the state with the southern cities in West Bengal, a senior officer said.

The demonstrators alleged repeated attacks and unsafe conditions faced by migrants from other states for speaking Bengali. "Migrants from Murshidadbad are being branded Bangladeshis outside West Bengal. They have been facing atrocities for speaking Bengali. We want exemplary punishment for those involved in such attacks," a protester said.

The Supreme Court on Friday (January 16) slammed a petitioner for filing a plea under Article 32, which gives citizens the right to seek constitutional remedies from the top court over violation of fundamental rights, despite a petition pending before the Bombay High Court.

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said Article 32 is being misused by filing petitions even on adjournments in high courts.

"Article 32 is being misused. The number of cases filed under Article 32 are exponentially being increased. For everything, one adjournment, file Article 32 here. Especially those surrounding Delhi are filing Article 32 petitions. What is this? It is a misuse," the bench said.

The government decided to launch a full-scale excavation on the premises of the Kote Veerabhadreshwara Temple at Lakkundi. The project is being undertaken jointly by the Department of Tourism, the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, the Lakkundi Heritage Development Authority and the district administration.

The JCBs, trucks and tractors were moved in to carry out excavation on the temple premises. A 10 metres by 10 metres area has been demarcated for excavation. The area has been notified for excavation. "We have roped in 15 women and five men for this job," an officer engaged in the work said.

Lakkundi was once ruled by the Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Kalchuris and the Vijayanagara kings, and associated with the famed philanthropist Danachintamani Attimabbe. This was also the place where gold coins were minted in the ancient time, sources in the archaeology department said. The treasure hunt began after a boy accidently discovered a small copper pot filled with gold ornaments weighing 470 grams. The ornaments are said to be 300 to 400 years old.

The boy handed over the treasure to the district administration, for which he was felicitated.

Officials said the region is believed to be rich in buried valuables, including gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, rubies, corals and cat's eye stones.

"Lakkundi has historically been a prosperous centre, and evidence suggests that immense material wealth may still be concealed underground," sources involved in the excavation said. The Karnataka government on Friday went on a treasure hunt following the discovery of gold ornaments during the construction of a house in the historic Lakkundi village known for its architectural heritage in Gadag district.

The government decided to launch a full-scale excavation on the premises of the Kote Veerabhadreshwara Temple at Lakkundi.

The project is being undertaken jointly by the Department of Tourism, the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, the Lakkundi Heritage Development Authority and the district administration. The JCBs, trucks and tractors were moved in to carry out excavation on the temple premises. A 10 metres by 10 metres area has been demarcated for excavation. The area has been notified for excavation.

"We have roped in 15 women and five men for this job," an officer engaged in the work said.

Lakkundi was once ruled by the Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Kalchuris and the Vijayanagara kings, and associated with the famed philanthropist Danachintamani Attimabbe.This was also the place where gold coins were minted in the ancient time, sources in the archaeology department said.

The treasure hunt began after a boy accidently discovered a small copper pot filled with gold ornaments weighing 470 grams. The ornaments are said to be 300 to 400 years old. The boy handed over the treasure to the district administration, for which he was felicitated.

Officials said the region is believed to be rich in buried valuables, including gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, rubies, corals and cat's eye stones.

"Lakkundi has historically been a prosperous centre, and evidence suggests that immense material wealth may still be concealed underground," sources involved in the excavation said. During an exploration conducted in November 2024, thousands of ancient artefacts were unearthed at Lakkundi. More recently, the discovery of jewellery has further heightened interest in the site. Even now, precious stones such as sapphires, pearls, gems, diamonds and cat's eye are reportedly being found in different parts of the area.

Archaeologists said the fresh excavation is of high historical importance and is expected to yield inscriptions, monuments, sculptures and ornaments linked to Karnataka's medieval history, potentially adding significantly to the understanding of Lakkundi's rich heritage.

During an exploration conducted in November 2024, thousands of ancient artefacts were unearthed at Lakkundi.

More recently, the discovery of jewellery has further heightened interest in the site. Even now, precious stones such as sapphires, pearls, gems, diamonds and cat's eye are reportedly being found in different parts of the area.

Archaeologists said the fresh excavation is of high historical importance and is expected to yield inscriptions, monuments, sculptures and ornaments linked to Karnataka's medieval history, potentially adding significantly to the understanding of Lakkundi's rich heritage.

The two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra said the government has to comply with directions already issued by the court on the matter. Chinese 'manjha', the court noted, endangers the lives of humans and birds. Kite flying peaks in various parts of the country, including UP, around Makar Sankranti.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Himanshu Srivastava and two others seeking complete ban of the use of Chinese 'manjha'.

The petition stated that the court, after hearing a PIL on the subject, passed an order on November 19, 2015, giving specific directions to the state government to adopt all appropriate steps to prohibit the manufacturing, use and sale of Chinese 'manjha'.

The court has given similar directions on other such petitions, it said. The high court, then, asked the state government to enforce its directions on Chinese 'manjha' and disposed of the PIL.

The deceased have been identified as Alan and Neel, relatives aged 19, and residents of Koorkkamattom, Kuttichira in Thrissur district. Police said Neel was riding the motorcycle with Alan as the pillion rider along the Chalakudy–Ashtamichira Road at around 11.30 pm on Thursday. The rider allegedly lost control of the motorcycle, which veered off the road and hit a tree on the roadside.

The organisation alleged that fraudsters have created several fake websites and social media-based booking channels offering rooms in popular facilities such as 'Prabhupad Village', 'Gada Bhavan', 'Conch Bhavan' and 'Gita Bhavan' in West Bengal's Mayapur, the headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon).

"These websites look professional and convincing. They offer rooms during peak festival periods, and sometimes promise discounts or special benefits, and then disappear after collecting the full payment," Iskcon Kolkata Vice President Radharamn Das said.

He said that https://www.visitmayapur.com/ is the only official and authorised portal for booking accommodation in Iskcon Mayapur, and warned that any booking made through other websites, agents or phone calls is unsafe.

After reaching Mayapur, several devotees and tourists, including those travelling from abroad, have found that their bookings through the fake websites were fraudulent, he said. "Visitors with elderly parents and children expect confirmed rooms and are shocked to find that they have been cheated by these fraudulent online platforms," Das said.

An FIR has been registered, and the matter has been taken up by law enforcement and cybercrime agencies, he said.

Talking to PTI, a senior police officer said this is a "serious criminal exploitation of faith and trust". "Until these fraudsters are stopped, public awareness is the strongest protection," Das said. The Iskcon authorities urged the people to "book rooms only through the official portal, avoid messaging-based bookings or agents". They asked devotees and tourists to be wary of discounts or urgency claims, and carefully verify website URLs before making payments.