Top city events

Approximately 1,317 children died in Gorakhpur this year due to Japanese encephalitis. According to Baba Raghav Das Medical College records, 152 children died in January this year, 122 in February, 159 in March, 123 in April, 139 in May, 137 in June, 128 in July and 325 in August. 30 children died in 45 hours on August 12. UP government under CM Yogi Adityanath faced heavy criticism in the wake of this issue. (PTI photo)

The intense tropical cyclone originated near the south-western coast of Sri Lanka, and then travelled to the southern-most tip of India. The cyclone claimed nearly 70 lives, mostly of fishermen who lived in the coastal stretch of Kerala. It hit the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep islands.

Hill districts of Kalimpong and Darjeeling in West Bengal saw a prolonged period of agitation and unrest since June after the government announced Bengali as a compulsory subject from class 1 to 10 across the state. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) President Bimal Gurung called for an indefinite protest for the creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland. Internet was suspended across Darjeeling hills for many days during the agitation that lasted for a good 104 days.

Mumbai experienced a horrific incident on September 29 when 23 people were killed in the rush hour stampede. Heavy rains forced people to rush to a narrow over bridge linking Elphinstone Road and Parel suburban stations for cover. Official statement predicted that people with heavy luggage lost their balance on the jammed staircase.

The Criminal Laws Ordinance, 2017 passed by Rajasthan legislature protects both serving and former judges, magistrates and public servants in the state from being investigated for on-duty action without its prior sanction. The amendment amassed political criticism. The opposition, mainly Congress blamed the BJP government for encouraging corruption and not maintaining transparency in governance.

In Banaras Hindu University (BHU), a violent protest broke out within the premises on September 23, 2017 after a female student was allegedly harassed by three men. The protests took an ugly turn when some students were severely injured in lathicharge carried out by the police. The issue gained momentum when some videos of the female students being manhandled by policemen started doing rounds on social media.

17-year- old Junaid Khan was lynched on a train going from Ghaziabad to Mathura on June 22. The killing took place when Junaid and his brothers were returning home to Khandawli village in Palwal after Eid shopping in Delhi. The brothers were also injured by the mob that allegedly also hurled communal slurs against them.

At least 30 people, including a professor and 10 policemen, were injured in violent clashes between two groups in Ramjas College of Delhi University's North Campus in February this year. The scuffle broke out during a protest march by the college students and teachers demanding action against the ABVP's disruption of a literary seminar.