Air pollution in Delhi was slightly higher this January than last year, but the month still ranks among the cleanest January periods since 2022. Data checked by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) shows that the average Air Quality Index (AQI) up to January 30 was 307. During the same time in 2025, the average AQI was 306.

The study shows that January 2025 had the lowest pollution level for the month in the past few years, with an average AQI of 306. In 2022, the monthly average AQI was 279. Based on current data, January 2026 is now the second-cleanest January after these years.

Looking at daily air levels, January 2026 had two days in the “moderate” range, 12 days in the “poor” range, 14 days in the “very poor” range, and two days marked as “severe.” In January 2025, there were two “moderate” days, 13 “poor” days, and 16 “very poor” days. No “severe” days were recorded that month.

Experts say the two “severe” days this year may be one reason the average AQI is a little higher than last year.

The air warning system says the air on January 31 is likely to stay in the “very poor” range.

The Central Pollution Control Board classifies AQI levels like this: 0–50 is “good,” 51–100 is “satisfactory,” 101–200 is “moderate,” 201–300 is “poor,” 301–400 is “very poor,” and 401–500 is “severe.

A 27-year-old man was shot dead in Shahdara, Delhi, late Friday night. Police said he was only an hour away from his birthday when the attack happened. He had gone out to meet a few men to sort out a recent fight.

Police said the shooter hugged him first and then fired at his head.

The firing took place around 11:09 pm near Chhotu Halwai Shop in V Block, Naveen Shahdara. After getting a call about gunshots, a police team reached the spot and found the victim, Gagan, lying with a bullet wound on his head.

Senior officers, local police staff, the Crime Team and forensic experts checked the area. Gagan’s body was taken to GTB Hospital.

Family members said Gagan had stepped outside to meet someone he knew.
His father, Ravi Kumar, told IANS, “He came down to meet the man. They hugged, and then the man shot him in the head. He even fired in the air. By the time I came down, my son was on the ground. I don’t know about any fight.”

Gagan was married and had a baby boy who was only 10 days old.

Police later said Gagan was known in the area for past cases. He had a bullet injury on his right temple and was declared dead at the hospital.

Two men had arrived on a motorcycle. One has been caught along with the bike, while the other is still missing.

Police said Gagan had a fight with the accused earlier, and they had met to settle the matter.

A case has been filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act. The police are looking into the case further.

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Delhi Police found a secret phone assembly setup in a narrow lane in Karol Bagh. Five men were caught, and officers took more than 1,800 phones along with software used to change IMEI numbers.

Police said this is one of the biggest cases of IMEI tampering seen in Central Delhi in recent months.

During questioning, the men said they bought old phones from scrap sellers and new outer parts from China. They joined old motherboards with new bodies to make the phones look fresh. After that, they changed the IMEI numbers with a tool called “WRITEIMEI 0.2.2”.

The group said they had been doing this for two years.

The local police team had been keeping an eye on the area for around 15 days after getting a tip. When they reached the building in Beedanpura, they found all five men working on phones and changing IMEI numbers with a laptop.

Police took 1,826 phones—both keypad and touchscreen—along with a laptop, IMEI software, a scanning tool, many phone bodies, and IMEI sticker sheets.

The men caught are Ashok Kumar (45), said to be the main person, along with Ramnarayan (36), Dharmender Kumar (35), Deepanshu (25), and Deepak (19). They were selling these changed phones in local markets.

An FIR has been filed under BNS sections 318(4) and 112, section 65 of the IT Act, and sections 42(3)(c) and 42(3)(e) of the Telecom Act, 2023.

Police are now checking how the parts were sourced, who supplied the motherboards, how the phones were moved to markets, and who else may be linked. Officers said more action may happen soon.