# Punjab's drone threat, Odisha's mining dispute, and a zero-vote mystery

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/3-things-69930/punjab-s-drone-threat-odisha-s-mining-dispute-and-a-zero-vote-mystery
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/3-things-69930/punjab-s-drone-threat-odisha-s-mining-dispute-and-a-zero-vote-mystery.md
Podcast: [3 Things](https://stenobird.com/podcast/3-things-69930)
Published: 2026-09-16T00:30:02+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/punjab-s-drone-threat-odisha-s-mining-dispute-and-a-zero-vote-mystery--75150093
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/75150093/3_things_2026_september_16_v2.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/3-things-69930/episodes/punjab-s-drone-threat-odisha-s-mining-dispute-and-a-zero-vote-mystery
Duration seconds: 1751

## Resource

First, we speak to The Indian Express’ Man Aman Singh Chhina about how increasingly sophisticated drones are transforming cross-border smuggling along Punjab’s border with Pakistan, what they are carrying, and the growing challenge for security agencies and border villages. Next, we speak to The Indian Express’ Sujit Bisoyi about an amendment to India’s mining law that gives the Centre the power to restrict state taxes on minerals, why it is facing opposition in Odisha, and what it could mean for the mineral-rich state. (14:50) And in the end, we examine a curious result from Rajasthan’s urban local body elections, where candidate Omprakash Bawri has alleged irregularities after officially receiving zero votes despite claiming that he and members of his family voted for him. (26:11) Hosted by Ichha Sharma Produced and written by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda and Ichha Sharma Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

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