JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on hunger strike for the past 14 days to protest alleged irregularities, is surrounded by people as he lies on the floor after police allegedly prevented him from leaving the Sadar Hospital to participate in a 'Tiranga Yatra'(PTI Photo)Jharkhand’s student protest entered its 23rd consecutive day in Ranchi on Saturday, with aspirants demanding the cancellation of the SSC-JPSC-CGL exam, a CBI probe and examination reforms. Student leader Ravindra Paswan said there had been no response from the government so far, and urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to heed the students’ concerns rather than those around him. “If you take a decision in the interest of the students today, the entire student community will stand by you,” Paswan said.If you are just joining us, this is The Indian Express Realtime breaking news blog – where we bring you the latest news updates of the day in real time. Scan the top headlines of the day here, or keep scrolling to see the latest updates stream in.Delhi wildlife NGO accused of poacher nexus after leopard skins seizedA leading Delhi wildlife NGO has been accused of staging a poaching seizure to take credit for it, with officials alleging it has a nexus with the very poachers it claims to fight. Two staff members have been arrested for poaching and have named the organisation’s CEO, Kartick Satyanarayan, who has been served notice to join the investigation — a case that has shaken India’s conservation community.Story continues below this adFormer Bengal deputy speaker found dead at TMC officeFormer West Bengal deputy speaker and TMC MLA Ashish Banerjee has been found dead under mysterious circumstances at a TMC party office in Kolkata, with police launching a probe into the circumstances of the death.Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: Blue drums used as rafts as trapped workers awaitedRescuers improvised blue drums as flotation devices to reach 22 workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Chamoli after water and debris gushed in following a landslide. The rescue operation has illustrated both the ingenuity and the precariousness of emergency response in high-altitude Uttarakhand.India courts to decide on Sheikh Hasina’s extradition, talks on for a new approachIndia has indicated that the extradition of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be decided by its courts, even as diplomatic talks are under way to find a different course that avoids a direct confrontation with Dhaka — a delicate balance for New Delhi as it tries to manage a bilateral relationship that has been strained since Hasina’s ouster.Pakistan’s new recruits are Indian teenagersPakistan’s intelligence networks are increasingly targeting Indian teenagers for radicalisation and recruitment — young people who never need to cross the border, but who are being reached through social media, encrypted messaging and online gaming platforms in a shift in tactics that Indian security agencies are scrambling to counter.SRK, Ajay Devgn, Tiger Shroff get FDA notices over Vimal adShah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff have received show-cause notices from Maharashtra’s FDA over their endorsement of the Vimal Elaichi brand, in an exclusive reported by The Indian Express — the most high-profile action yet in a crackdown on celebrity advertising of products associated with tobacco substitute use.India dominate Day 1 in Galle; Day 2 begins with Padikkal and Pant at creaseIndia put two years of spin woes behind them with a dominant Day 1 at Galle, with KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal resuming Day 2 at the crease after a partnership that gave India a strong platform in the first Test against Sri Lanka.Live UpdatesAug 16, 2026 11:08 AM ISTJharkhand student protest: Babulal Marandi urges talks with aspirantsJharkhand Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi called on the state government to pay attention to the students' demands and hold talks with the protesters "without any delay"."The government should not remain adamant on its stance. It should pay attention to the students' demands... The government should hold talks with the students without any delay," Marandi said.#watch | Ranchi: Jharkhand LoP, Babulal Marandi says, "The government should not remain adamant on its stance. It should pay attention to the students' demands... The government should hold talks with the students without any delay." pic.twitter.com/k2t6PfoCjC— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2026Aug 16, 2026 10:56 AM ISTJharkhand student protest enters day 23Jharkhand’s student protest entered its 23rd consecutive day in Ranchi on Saturday, with aspirants demanding the cancellation of the SSC-JPSC-CGL exam, a CBI probe and examination reforms. Student leader Ravindra Paswan said there had been no response from the government so far, and urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to heed the students’ concerns rather than those around him. “If you take a decision in the interest of the students today, the entire student community will stand by you,” Paswan said.© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd