Mumbai Hostage Situation Ends With Death Of Captor; What Fadnavis Said About Farm Loan Waivers In Maharashtra; And More

India Stuns Australia to Reach Women's World Cup Final

India's women cricket team created history at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium on Thursday, chasing down Australia's massive 338 to win by five wickets in the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 semifinal.

Jemimah Rodrigues' maiden World Cup century – an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls – anchored the record chase, supported by captain Harmanpreet Kaur's crucial 89. Amanjot Kaur sealed victory with a boundary in the 49th over.

The win ended Australia's 15-match unbeaten streak and guarantees a first-time champion in Sunday's final against South Africa.

Earlier, Phoebe Litchfield's explosive 119 powered Australia to 338, but India's late bowling resurgence restricted the damage.

Mumbai Hostage Crisis Ends in Death of Captor

A hostage situation in Mumbai's Powai area on Thursday, 30 October, ended when captor Rohit Arya died from injuries sustained during a police rescue operation.

Arya, 45, held 17 children aged 8-14 hostage for nearly two hours at RA Studios, a small film facility where he had lured them under the guise of conducting auditions. Police received a distress call around 1:45 pm and immediately began negotiations.

When Arya refused to release the children and threatened to harm them, police breached the premises through a bathroom. During the rescue, Arya fired an air gun, prompting police to return fire with a single round. All 17 children were rescued unharmed.

Before the standoff, Arya released a video explaining his actions, stating he preferred taking hostages over suicide to draw attention to his "moral and ethical demands." He threatened to set the building ablaze if provoked. Police recovered an air gun and chemical containers from the scene.

Investigators revealed Arya's grievances stemmed from alleged unpaid dues related to the PLC Sanitation Monitor Project under the Chief Minister's school beautification campaign. Despite a Rs 2 crore sanction, he claimed non-payment since January 2024 and alleged being sidelined despite assurances from former Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar.

Other developments

Maharashtra Government to Decide on Farm Loan Waiver by June 2026

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced Thursday that the state will make a final decision on complete farm loan waiver by June 30, 2026, following a meeting with agitating farmer leaders in Mumbai.

The announcement came after discussions with former MLA Bachchu Kadu, who led protests blocking National Highway 44 near Nagpur, causing a 20-kilometer traffic jam. The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court had taken suo-moto notice and ordered protesters to vacate the road.

Fadnavis stated a high-level committee headed by MITRA CEO Praveen Pardeshi will submit recommendations by April 1, 2026. "We had promised farm loan waiver in our manifesto. We are committed," he said.

The CM emphasized immediate priority is providing flood relief to farmers for the upcoming Rabi season. Of Rs 8,500 crore released, Rs 6,000 crore has been deposited in farmers' accounts, with another Rs 11,000 crore approved by Cabinet.

Acknowledging financial constraints, Fadnavis said, "The government is in financial trouble, but we will find a way out."

Gadkari Orders QR Codes on Highways for Accountability

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has directed NHAI and highway contractors to install QR code hoardings along national highways, enabling the public to identify officials responsible for each road stretch.

"Main kyu gaali khaun?" Gadkari said, explaining the codes will display contractor, consultant, and officer details to ensure accountability and transparency.

The minister emphasized roads must meet global standards, stating toll-paying commuters deserve quality infrastructure regardless of weather or material challenges. "Roads must be good, and they must stay good," he stressed.

Road Transport Secretary V Umashankar announced drone-shot videos of highway projects will be uploaded on YouTube for public feedback. Regular performance audits will also be conducted.

The initiative is part of a Rs 2 lakh crore plan to upgrade 25,000 km of highways, with precast technology being promoted for enhanced quality and speed.

Government Issues Commemorative Coin for Arya Samaj's 150th Anniversary

The Narendra Modi government will release a special Rs 150 commemorative coin marking the 150th anniversary of Arya Samaj, featuring the Gayatri Mantra in Devanagari script—possibly the first time on Indian currency.

Founded by Dayanand Saraswati in Bombay in April 1875, Arya Samaj's milestone will be celebrated through this official coin announced Thursday.

The coin's obverse displays the Ashoka Pillar's Lion Capitol with 'Satyamev Jayate' below, flanked by 'Bharat' in Devanagari and 'INDIA' in English, plus the Rs 150 denomination.

The reverse features the Arya Samaj 150-year logo centered between '1875' and '2025', with inscriptions in both Devanagari and English ('ARYA SAMAJ 150 YEAR CELEBRATION'). The Gayatri Mantra is split across the design—the first half below the Hindi text and the second half above the English inscription.

This follows a recent commemorative coin for RSS's centenary, which featured 'Bharat Mata' for the first time on Indian currency, personally unveiled by Prime Minister Modi.

Bihar election corner

Amit Shah Declares INDI Alliance Will Be "Wiped Out" in Bihar Elections

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched an attack on Congress at a Lakhisarai rally Thursday, predicting the INDI Alliance will be "wiped out" in Bihar's upcoming elections.

Shah claimed voters would "take revenge" for Congress workers insulting PM Modi's mother and Rahul Gandhi "deriding" the Prime Minister and 'Chhathi Maiyya.' Taking a swipe at Sonia Gandhi, he urged voters to press NDA symbols on EVMs so hard that "tremors are felt in Italy."

The Home Minister accused previous RJD governments of imposing "jungle raj," contrasting Lalu Prasad's tenure—marked by "fodder, land-for-jobs, and flood relief scams"—with NDA's development focus. He alleged UPA involvement in Rs 12 lakh crore worth of scams.