- St. Valentine's Day brings good business for Bangalore
Bangalore, Feb.14: While youngsters around the world were celebrating St. - Rains delights farmers in Kangra Valley
Dharamshala, Feb.14: While people in north India found the occasional rains and chill in the air inconvenient, farmers in Kangra Valley were happy. - Punjab rural Olympics still very popular
Kila Raipur (Punjab), Feb 14: It was in 1933 that philanthropist Inder Singh Grewal visualised an annual recreational meet where farmers from surrounding areas could get together and test their physical prowess. The idea gave birth to the Kila Raipur Rural Olympics. - 14 advanced anti-Naxal bases set up in Chhattisgarh
New Delhi, Feb 14: In a bid to curb escalation of Naxal violence in Chhattisgarh, 14 advanced anti-Naxalite bases have been established in the targeted areas to provide security to people.Security training to Village Defence Socities were being imparted at a few places as part of serious anti-Naxalite operations, according to State Director General of Police O P Rathor. - Valentine's Day fever grips India despite warnings
Jaipur/Gulmarg (Jammu and Kashmir), Feb 14: Couples across the country are celebrating Valentine's Day today despite warnings by Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal activists.In Jaipur, a heavy rush in beauty parlours was seen, with young men and women getting a Valentine's Day make over. - Pet salon makes it a special Valentine's Day for dogs
Mumbai, Feb 14: If you thought mushy gifts, sweet nothings and exclusive bashes were meant only for you and your sweetheart this Valentine's Day, a pet saloon here has decided to challenge the concept by playing cupid to your pet.As youths across the world prepared to spend lots of money to impress their loved ones, Taliwaggers, a popular pet salon in the western suburb of Bandra, took the opportunity to make dogs feel good about themselves -- free of cost. - Heavy polling in Manipur elections
By Syed Zarir Hussain, Thoubal, Feb 14: Heavy polling was recorded Wednesday in Manipur in the second of the three-phased assembly elections with no incidents of violence so far, officials said.An election official said voting was continuing with people queuing up in large numbers to cast their ballots in 29 of Manipur's 60 assembly constituencies. - Gangtok shivers as temperature plummets
Gangtok, Feb 14: Biting cold gripped the capital of Sikkim and its adjoining areas as the temperature dipped to 3.9 degrees Celsius today. - Court orders probe into defalcation of SGRY funds
Patna, Feb 14: The Patna High Court today ordered a probe by Bihar's vigilance bureau into alleged defalcation of funds provided to the state for the food-for-work programme under the Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojana (SGRY) scheme.A division bench comprising Chief Justice J N Bhatt and Justice S K Sinha asked the vigilance bureau to thouroughly inquire alleged irregularities in the Centrally--sponsored scheme in Siwan district and to submit a report to the court and the state government within five months. - Six inches of snow in Darjeeling
Siliguri (WB), Feb 14: Darjeeling was covered by four to six inches of snow for the first time in a decade, thanks to heavy snowfall early today.Normal life in the area from Darjeeling to Ghoom was affected by the snow that fell over eight hours. - Valentine's Day cards burnt in Srinagar
Srinagar, Feb 14: Radical women's group Dukhtaran-e- Millat and some other organisations today burnt Valentine's Day cards and gifts here, saying the celebrations had no place in Kashmiri society.Under the banner of Forum Against Social Evils (FASE), they raided shops in Residency Road and set afire greeting cards and gifts. - Second highest voting in Punjab since 1967
Chandigarh, Feb 14: The border state of Punjab witnessed the second highest voting percentage in Assembly elections since 1967 - when the state was bifurcated and Haryana was carved out.Braving an unkind weather, 71. - Five die of food poisoning in Chhattisgarh
Raipur, Feb 14: Five women died and two fell ill after consuming homemade food in a Chhattisgarh village, police said Wednesday.Seven middle-aged women began to vomit after eating Tuesday night in Kilkila village in Jashpur district, 480 km northeast of Raipur. - Pakistan was offered Baglihar height reduction in 2005
Jammu, Feb 14: The Jammu and Kashmir government had told Pakistan that the height of the Baglihar dam could be reduced by 1.5 metres long before the matter was referred to the World Bank. - Defective heat shield caused Indian missile glitch
New Delhi, Feb 14: A defective heat shield caused the failure of the first test-firing of the indigenously developed nuclear capable intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) Agni-III last year, a top scientist said Wednesday."We have identified the problem. - Fire, not explosion cause of army official's death: Govt
Jammu, Feb 14: The state government today said that fire and not explosion was the cause behind the death of an army official and his daughter at an army camp in Leh on February four.Lieutenant Colonel R K Choudhary and his daughter Anushika had died in the incident in the army's alfa mess. - Jammu and Kashmir KVIV extends loan of Rs 18 cr for unemployed youth
Srinagar, Feb 14: The Jammu and Kashmir Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) today said it has given a loan of Rs 18 crore to educated unemployed youth in the state for setting up income generating units till January this year.In addition, a margin money of Rs 6 crore was provided to the beneficiaries, KVIB Secretary R C Sharma said here. - Army to launch Everest expedition in April
New Delhi, Feb 14: The Army has chosen twenty personnel for its mountaineering team will make an attempt to climb the Mount Everest in April. The expedition will be lead by Lieutenant Colonel IS Thapa of the Maratha Light Infantry, is likely to be flagged off in the second half of March this year. - Cold conditions prevail in Punjab, Haryana as rains continue
Chandigarh, Feb 14: Cold conditions returned to Punjab and Haryana with rains continuing to lash several parts of the states for the sixth consecutive day today.Though minimum temperatures in the plains were normal, maximum temperatures plummetted by several degrees yesterday. - CBI arrests suspended Defence Ministry official
New Delhi, Feb 14: The CBI today arrested a suspended Defence Ministry official, whose name figured in the Tehelka scandal, under the Official Secrets Act.The agency alleges that P Sasi, a former employee of Ordnance Supply Directorate, had violated the Official Secrets Act by passing out sensitive defence related information. - Sun finally shines, after days of rain
New Delhi/Agra, Feb 14: Bright sunshine, after four days of cloudy, rainy weather, and the meteorological department's declaration that the "wet spell is over", brought relief to many in the capital Wednesday. "The cyclonic circulation over Haryana is over and the Westerlies which brought the heavy downpour are in the process of moving eastwards," said a weather official. - Another custodial death in Kashmir, cops suspended
Jammu, Feb 14: A youth in Jammu and Kashmir, arrested on charges of theft, was allegedly tortured to death in the Rajouri police station and two cops have been suspended Wednesday.Shoukat Ali, who was arrested Tuesday, was found dead Wednesday. - Dolphins dwindle in Chambal sanctuary
Bhopal, Feb 14: The dolphins in Chambal river have declined by almost one-third - from 98 to 69 - in the last three years and include only 40 adults, 21 adolescents and eight calves, said wildlife officials here.Though there is a National Chambal Sanctuary to protect the aqua life, little has been done to protect the dolphin from the ever-increasing pollution and rampant poaching mainly responsible for the declining numbers, the officials said. - Relief fund for militancy-affected families
Srinagar, Feb 14: Jammu and Kashmir government has sanctioned an ex-gratia amount of Rs 21.35 lakh to 25 families affected by militancy in Baramulla district, an official said today. - Rains make Orissa cooler too
Bhubaneswar, Fe1 14: Unexpected rains have lashed many parts of Orissa, bringing the temperatures down considerably, the meteorological office said here Wednesday.The rains over the past 24 hours have been triggered by an upper air circulation that extends from Rajasthan to north Andhra Pradesh, a weather official said. - 'Strike force' deployed at 21 locations during polls
Imphal, Feb 14: 'Strike forces' comprising police, India Reserve Battalion (IRB) and Manipur Rifles personnel, have been deployed at 21 locations of the three valley districts of Manipur where second phase polls are being held.The 'strike forces', led by either a deputy superintendent of police or a police inspector and numbering between 32 to 35, would prevent any person or persons attempting to disrupt the elections, official sources said. - Lovebirds celebrate Valentine's Day amid tight security, soggy weather
Chandigarh, Feb 14: Tight vigil by the police and a soggy weather appeared to play spoilsport for all those struck by the cupid on Valentine's Day here today.The inclement weather, however, could not deter the cops who were out in full strength all around the city to prevent any rowdyism. - Cop, friends rape girl in hotel
Jammu, Feb 14: A girl was allegedly raped by her lover, a policeman, and his two friends in a hotel in Poonch district, police said today.The policeman brought his lover from Mendhar border belt to Poonch town and along with his two friends raped her in a hotel room last night, they said. - S C Shukla dead
Raipur, Feb 14: A three-time Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and senior Congress leader S C Shukla died here today.82-year-old Shukla, who was ailing for sometime, breathed his last at a hospital here early this morning, hospital authorities said. - Five injured in protests over custodial killing in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu, Feb 14: People clashed with police over the alleged custodial killing of a man in Rajouri district today, in which at least five persons were injured, officials said.The locals were protesting over the death of one Showkat Ali, who was arrested in connection with a theft case in Rajouri yesterday, they said. - Bank indices down by over 6 pc in late morning deals
Mumbai, Feb 14: Markets turned jittery as a rise in CRR took a toll on banking stocks with both the banking indices, Bankex and Bank Nifty, were down 6.5 per cent in late morning deals. - Banks should advance easy loan facilities : minister
Jammu, Feb 14: Considering the leading role that banks play in socio-economic transformation, Minister of State for Finance, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Prem Sagar Aziz has asked them to advance easy loans for agricultural, small trader unit holders and self-employment venture incumbents."Such banking facilities need to be extended to the people of far-flung and backward areas to help them open small income generating units," Aziz said. - Explosion in fireworks unit kills three women
Madurai, Feb 14: Three women workers of a cracker manufacturing unit in Anaiyur near Sivakasi, who suffered serious burn injuries when a fireworks unit caught fire and exploded yesterday, died in the hospital, police said here today.While Manickam(22) and Veeralakshmi(27) died late last night, Lakshmi succumbed to burns early today, police said. - Mist-filled morning, nip in air, perfect setting for Valentine's Day
New Delhi, Feb 14: After an interlude of rainy and overcast days, a mist-filled morning and clear skies greeted the capital today making a perfect setting for the Valentine's Day.The minimum temperature in the capital was a pleasant 9. - Rain dampens poll spirit in Manipur
Imphal, Feb 14: About 10 to 12 per cent exercised their franchise during the first four hours of polling as heavy rains served as a dampener during the second phase Manipur assembly elections being held today.Official sources said very few voters had turned out at various polling stations spread over three valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West and Bishnupur. - Two militants killed in gunbattle in Jammu and Kashmir
Srinagar, Feb 14: Two unidentified militants were killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Tral area of Pulwama district, officials said today.Following reports of firing at Gulshanpora area, the forces laid an ambush in nearby seer Jagir area of Tral last evening, they said. - Jawan commits suicide in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu, Feb 14: An army jawan allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself here, official sources said today.The jawan, identified as Kamlander Singh of Madhya Pradesh, who was working in the ordinance unit at 26 infantry division headquarters in Jammu cantonment, took out his service rifle and allegedly shot himself dead in the unit last night, the sources said. - No respite from cold for Delhiites on Valentine's Day
New Delhi, Feb 14: After experiencing wet spells and overcast conditions in the last few days, Delhiites today woke up to another cold but sunny morning.The cold northwesterly winds giving the locals shivers, however, were not here to stay and were expected to subside as the day progressed, the weathermen said. - Leopard dies in Jammu's Manda sanctuary
Jammu, Feb 14: A leopard, captured in injured condition near Indo-Pak border, died today in Manda wildlife sanctuary, near here.Wildlife officials said the leopard was under treatment for the past one month and it died this morning. - Kolkata must preserve its unique fashion sense: Sabyasachi
Kolkata, Feb 14: Fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee is all for conserving Kolkata's spontaneous and out-of-the-box fashion sense."The people of Kolkata have a different and strong sense of fashion. - Women power to decide outcome in Pithoragarh assembly seat
Pithoragarh, Feb 14: Women power and the voters' assessment of basic problems like power, water and roads will decide who will represent them from backward Pithogarh assembly constituency in Uttarakhand going to polls on February 21.Women outnumber male voters in Pithoragarh where sitting BJP MLA and former Speaker Prakash Pant is pitted against Ravindra Bisht of Congress. - Sensex down 282 pts following CRR hike
Mumbai, Feb 14: A hike in cash reserve ratio (CRR) by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) late yesterday evening took its toll on share values during morning trade and the bellwether Sensex was down by a whopping 281.79 points. - S C Shukla: 50 years of Chhattisgarh's history
Prakash Chandra Hota, Raipur, Feb 14: Shyama Charan Shukla, who died today, symbolised five decades of history of Chhattisgarh region and was synonymous with Raipur because of his family's dominance in politics of the area.82-year-old "Shyama Bhaiya", as he was fondly called, is the only person from Chhattisgarh region to occupy the chief ministership of undivided Madhya Pradesh three times. - National database of manuscripts to be launched
New Delhi, Feb 14: The much-awaited national database of manuscripts will be launched here today by the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMMs) on the occasion of its fourth anniversary. The event will also be marked by the proclamation of 45 selected manuscripts as the manuscript treasures of India, which has an estimated five million manuscripts, most of which lie unknown and neglected. - Second phase of Manipur assembly elections begins
Imphal, Feb 14: Polling for the second of the three-phased assembly elections in Manipur began this morning amid tight security.The polling process will end at 3. - Police sent ruby to FSL for valuation
Vadodara, Feb 13: In a new development to the ruby stone case in which a man killed his three friends for the precious metal, Police have sent the ruby to Forensic Science Laboratory at Gandhinagar for verification after doubts were raised over its actual value.Earlier, a Mumbai-based firm had quoted the ruby's actual value at Rs 6. - Restriction on Adityanath's movement lifted
Gorakhpur (UP), Feb 13: With the situation in the town gradually returning to normal, authorities today removed the restriction on BJP MP Yogi Adityanath to move out of his residence.The order restricting Adityanath's movement here has been revoked and the BJP MP has been intimated accordingly, the ADM (City) P K Agrawal said here tonight. - Delhi Government plans to move High Court on Ganguly Committee report
New Delhi, Feb 13: Delhi Government is planning to move the Delhi High Court to oppose some of the recommendations of the Ganguly Committee report and seek fixation of the cut-off age for nursery admission at four for this year.It will also request for restoring the status quo in the admission process for this year. - Suspended ACP Bansal moves High Court for anticipatory bail
New Delhi, Feb 13: The suspended Assistant Commissioner of Delhi Police R K Bansal, wanted by the CBI in connection with a bribery case, today moved Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail.Bansal, a DANIP officer and posted with anti-extortion cell of Delhi Police's Crime Branch, has been evading CBI interrogation since February one, when a non-bailable warrant was issued by a special court against him. - Two guards, factory employee found murdered
Agra, Feb 13: Two guards and an employee of a silver factory here were found murdered this morning with blunt edged weapons and Rs 25,000 in cash and silver waste stolen, police said.The murder of the guards and employee of the factory in Noori Darwaza locality was discovered when workers found the gate of the factory closed and no response despite their calls, they said. - Life returns to normal in Gorakhpur, Train services resumed
Gorakhpur (UP), Feb 13: Train services were today resumed as no untoward incident was reported from any part of the town during curfew relaxation.Authorities said life has returned to normal with markets buzzing with activity. - MAMC doctors on strike tomorrow
New Delhi, Feb 13: Seeking better security and accommodation in the campus, around 500 residents doctors of Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) will go on a token strike tommorrow."We have been demanding better security arrangements and accommodations for over a year," said Manish Naithani, vice president of the Resident Doctors Association here. - Lankan Navy opens fire on fishermen, one boat damaged
Porayar (TN), Feb 13: Sri Lankan Navy allegedly opened fire on fishermen from Tamil Nadu and destroyed a boat while they were fishing in the Indian territorial waters.According to the Fisheries Department officials, Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrived in intercepter boats and opened fire last night. - St Valentine visits Kashmir as Cupid's undercover agent
By F. Ahmed, Srinagar, Feb 14: Faced with stiff resistance from hard-line separatist groups here, Saint Valentine decided to visit Kashmir as Cupid's undercover agent this year. - Cold spell continues, more snow expected in Himachal
Shimla, Feb 14: After a freezing night, Shimla Wednesday woke up to icy winds and dark clouds with promise of more snow across most of Himachal Pradesh.The mercury fell to minus 1 degree Celsius and rose to barely 4 Tuesday even as some parts of the town went without power and water for a fourth day. - Red ribbons, curls, retro hairstyles on Valentine's Day
By Shweta Thakur, New Delhi, Feb 14: While red ribbons and heart-shaped accessories naturally dominated, the retro Sadhana cut and Dev Anand cowlick made a comeback as crowning glory this Valentine's Day, say hairstyle gurus.Hair salons registered up to 75 percent increase in clientele during the last week as young romantics spruced up on grooming rituals in preparation for Valentine's Day. - High Court seeks report on the number of patient comming for treatment
New Delhi, Feb 13: The Delhi High Court today sought a detailed report from the Safdajang Hospital here on the number of patients coming to it for the treatment of serious diseases.The Bench comprising Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice H R Malhotra said, "We want to know how many people come to your hospital with dire need and facing serious diseases like heart surgery and cancer. - Congress veteran Shyamacharan Shukla dead
Raipur, Feb 14: Shyamacharan Shukla, Congress veteran and three-time chief minister of undivided Madhya Pradesh, died here early Wednesday after prolonged illness. He was 82. - VHP-organised meet pledges to construct temple at Ayodhya
Allahabad, Feb 13: The third World Hindu Conference organised by the VHP concluded here today with a pledge to construct a Ram Temple at Ayodhya and build a "Hindu votebank" for getting India declared as a "Hindu Rashtra".A resolution adopted at the concluding ceremony said construction of the temple would be undertaken with the cooperation of Sri Ram Janambhoomi Nyas and Ramanand sect. - Send representative to MCI by March 31: High Court
New Delhi, Feb 13: The Delhi High Court today took strong exception of some State Governments and the universities for not complying with its order pertaining to the sending their representative to Medical Council of India (MCI) and refused to extend the date beyond March 31."First you people don't do what you are supposed to do and when we beg you to do it then you don't follow our direction," a Division Bench comprising Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice H R Malhotra said. - High Court upholds dismissal of a driver from job by DPS
New Delhi, Feb 13: Observing that a school cannot endanger the safety of students by permitting a man, against whom criminal case of rash and negligent driving was pending, to drive a school bus, the Delhi High Court today upheld the dismissal of a driver from job by the Delhi Public School (DPS).It said the dismissal was carried out as part of stringent and effective measures put into place for maintaining public safety and dealing with the danger posed to the public by the motor vehicles. - Jan Morcha to launch campaign against 'exploitation'of youths
Allahabad, Feb 13: Alleging the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led government in Uttar Pradesh, where assembly polls are due this year, had "cheated" the youth, the Jan Morcha today announced it will launch a campaign against the "exploitation" of youths and farmers."The various so-called pro-youth schemes launched by the Samajwadi Party government are a mere eyewash. - Villager's gherao MLAs brother in Ferozepur distt.
Ferozepur, Feb 13: Villagers gheraoed a brother of sitting Congress MLA of Jallalabad when he took shelter in a house after his attempt at booth capturing was foiled in village Dharmuwala this evening, police said.The villagers forced Hakam Joshan, younger brother of legislator Hans Raj Joshan, to flee when he tried to capture the polling booth in the village as some people were voting at around 7. - 10 Pakistani prisoners at Tihar given consular access
New Delhi, Feb 13: Ten Pakistani prisoners lodged in the high-security Tihar jail, many of them charged with civil offences, have been provided consular access, a jail official said today.Two officials from the Pakistan High Commission have identified the prisoners when they visited the jail on Sunday, the official told PTI. - Man gets three and half years rigorous imprisonment for causing injuries to woman
New Delhi, Feb 13: A Delhi court today sentenced a man to three-and-a-half-years rigorous imprisonment for causing grievous hurt to a 35-year-old woman leading to her death two years ago."The prosecution has established that it was Sant Ram (convict), who had pushed the victim forcefully which led to fatal cerebral fracture resulting in her death two days later," said Additional Sessions Judge N P Kaushik. - Reddy tells officials to procure 5000 tonnes of onions
Hyderabad, Feb 13: With a scarcity of onions figuring in the Andhra Pradesh assembly today, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy has asked the civil supplies and other departments to immediate steps to procure 5,000 tonnes of onions.In a review meeting in his chambers in the assembly, he instructed officials to overcome the shortage of onions. - People voted to crush repressive, corrupt forces:Badal
Chandigarh, Feb 13: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Parkash Singh Badal today said the people had exercised their franchise for getting "independence from repressive and corrupt forces".In a statement here this evening, he said reports from every quarter "indicate that the Punjabis today used their vote as a declaration of independence from repressive and corrupt forces". - Did two million people vote in Punjab after deadline?
By Jaideep Sarin, Chandigarh, Feb 14: The nearly 72 percent polling in Punjab's rain-soaked voting day Tuesday for 115 of the 117 assembly seats may be a 38-year record, but the feat would not have been possible without balloting continuing almost three hours after the 5 p.m. - DMC election process to begin from tomorrow: High Court
New Delhi, Feb 13: The Delhi High Court today fixed a fresh poll schedule for the election in Delhi Medical Council for choosing a member to represent it in Medical Council of India, which would begin from tomorrow.Issuing a fresh date sheet for the election, a Division Bench comprising of Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice H R Malhotra said, "Counsel appearing for different parties have stated that they don't have any objection with the re-notification of the election dates, so we are directing a different date schedule for the election. - Portfolios of Meghalaya's ministers reshuffled
Shillong, Feb 13: The portfolios of eight of the 12 ministers in Meghalaya, including the deputy chief minister, were reshuffled today.Six of the ministers affected by the reshuffle belonged to the Congress, the major partner in the ruling coalition, and one each to its allies, MDP and KHNAM. - Cops accused of accepting bribe sent to 14-day Judicial Custody
New Delhi, Feb 13: Two policemen arrested yesterday by the CBI for allegedly receiving bribe of Rs 15,000 were remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a Delhi court today.Sub-Inspector Shiv Kumar and Constable Pooran Singh were produced before Special Judge I K Kochhar who sent them to judicial custody till February 26. - No alliance in Uttar Pradesh: BJP
Dehradun, Feb 13: The BJP today ruled out alliance with other political parties in the coming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh."We will not enter into any alliance with other political parties in Uttar Pradesh," BJP Vice-President Kalyan Singh told reporters here. - High Court upset over non-compliance of its order
New Delhi, Feb 13: Threat of contempt proceeding loom large on the officers of civic bodies of the Capital as it was brought to the notice of the Delhi High Court today that in contrary to their affidavit there were still many unauthorised and illegal speed brakers existing in the city."We would issue contempt notice if it (affidavit) is found wrong," a Division Bench comprising Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice H R Malhotra said. - 'Suggestions for nationwide anti-ragging law'
Mumbai, Feb 13: The Chairman of an official committee to recommend measures to curb ragging on campuses today said a number of suggestions received by the panel sought a uniform law across the country to tackle the menace.R K Raghavan, head of the Supreme Court-ordered committee, said "Some of the states like Maharashtra have enacted these laws but in many others there are no anti-ragging laws at all. - Youth held for killing nine-year-old boy
Ahmedabad, Feb 13: A youth believed to be involved in the murder of a nine-year-old boy in Chandlodia locality of the city was arrested today, police said.Ainil Patel, studying in class four of Tripada high school, was found murdered on the terrace of his Madhur Milan apartments yesterday. - Congress, BJP parties of 'touts and middlemen', alleges Mulayam
Mirzapur (UP), Feb 13: Claiming that Congress and BJP were the parties of "touts and middlemen", Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today alleged that development works undertaken by Governments led by these parties had only benefitted their supporters and not the common people.The Governments led by these parties had undertaken development works only to benefit "their touts and middlemen and not not general public", Yadav, who was here to lay the foundation stone of two bridges on river Ganga, said. - Law being revised to give low-cost homes to slum vendors
New Delhi, Feb 13: The Centre today said it would soon come out with a revised street vendors' act to provide low-cost homes to slum vendors.Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja told an ASSOCHAM conclave that the revised act would pave the way for a new urban housing and habitat policy extending financial incentives and low-cost interest rates to develop such low-cost housing. - High Court acquits woman charged with man's murder
New Delhi, Feb 13: After serving a three-year jail term, the Delhi High Court today came to the rescue of a woman, sentenced to life imprisonment for stoning a man to death three years ago, by acquitting her of all the charges.Reversing the trial court order sentencing her to life imprisonment for the killing Mastana, a Bench of Justice R S Sodhi and Justice P K Bhasin accepted the defence taken by 32-year-old accused Simmi, that the deceased was under the influence of liquor and had tried to outrage her modesty. - Tension in Jhaloor
Sangrur, Feb 13: Tension prevailed in Jhaloor village under Lehra assembly segment following allegations that Congress nominee and deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal "slapped" a former village sarpanch last night.Deputy Commissioner SR Ladhar accompanied by SSP Chander Shekher rushed to the spot to defuse tension. - First ever referendum to decide the fate of Municipal chairman
Raipur, Feb 13: For the first time in the history of Chhattisgarh, the state government today decided to hold a referendum to decide the fate of a rebel BJP leader who was elected Chairman of a municipality defeating the party's official nominee two years back."The state governmernt has decided to hold a referendum on the fate of Bimal Chopra, the Chairman of Mahasamund Municpality," they told PTI. - 'OLC's aim is Telugu and Urdu speaking people's interaction'
Hyderabad, Feb 13: Andhra Pradesh Official Language Commission aims to promote a lingual interaction between the speakers of Telugu and Urdu in the state by acting as a facilitator, an official of the panel said here today."The people with Telugu and Urdu as their mother tongues, should learn the languages mutually and the commission plays a role of felicitator in moulding them accordingly," member and convenor of OLC Jeelani Pairak told reporters here at a press conference convened to make a formal announcement on "first-ever Urdu seminar" by the Commission. - 55 per cent votes cast in Orissa Panchayat polls
Bhubaneswar, Feb 13: An estimated 55 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise in the first leg of the five-phase Panchayat elections which commenced in Orissa today, even as polling personnel could not reach 25 booths in Malkangiri district which witnessed encounters and explosions.The State Election Commission (SEC) ordered repoll in 74 booths spread over 13 districts, including the 25 in Malkanguri, as the polling could not be held there. - ULFA cadre killed, three others held
Dibrugarh (Assam), Feb 13: A hardcore ULFA insurgent was killed and three others were nabbed during joint operations by the army and police in two districts of Assam.Two ULFA cadres, who received training in Myanmar, were today arrested in the operation in Ophola Mising Gaon in Sibsagar district, officials said here today. - High Court to take a strong view if gunners are not withdrawn
Allahabad, Feb 13: After the apex court's refusal to interfere in the Allahabad High Court's order against the provision of gunners to ineligible persons, the court today warned it would take a strong view if such armed escorts were not withdrawn from ineligible persons like student leaders and contractors.A two-judge bench comprising Justice Imtiyaz Murtaza and Justice Amar Saran expressed the opinion that after finding non-compliance of the order, the court may have to summon the Principal Secretary (Home) in future. - ABSU meet to focus on quality education
Kokrajhar (Assam), Feb 13: The annual convention of the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) beginning tomorrow will focus on quality education and preparing Bodo students for national competititive examinations.ABSU President Rwn Gwra Narzary told PTI that over 10,000 Bodo students from across the country will participate in the three-day meet at Kashitora in Assam's Chirang district that will discuss, among other issues, various problems being faced by students. - Remove DIG heading team probing fake encounters: Bhim Singh
Srinagar, Feb 13: Demanding removal of DIG Farooq Ahmad heading the team investigating the alleged fake police encounters, Panthers Party today asked the government to seek CBI assistance and announce the name of the judge to conduct the inquiry."The state government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the fake encounters. - Two suspected Naxals held
Raiganj (WB), Feb 13: Two persons, suspected to be Naxalites, were arrested for trying to extort money from a doctor at Raiganj in North Dinajpur district, police said.Naxalite literature and several money receipts were seized from the possession of the two, who were rounded up on charge of threatening a doctor, Santanu Das, of dire consequences if he did not pay them Rs 20,000, they said. - RSP opposes SEZs, seeks discussion
Kolkata, Feb 13: The RSP, a constituent of West Bengal's ruling Left Front, today said the issu of setting up SEZs in the state should be discussed at a meeting of grouping or the projects would be "in the dock"."Everything including the Nandigram and Bhangar projects of the Salim Group (of Indonesia) will be in the dock unless the issue is discussed in a Left Front meeting and a consensus arrived at," RSP central committee member Manoj Bhattacherjee said here. - Election Commission decides to file FIR against TV news channel
New Delhi, Feb 13: The Election Commission today decided to file an FIR against news channel NDTV for allegedly violating the electoral law by telecasting outcome projections on elections in Punjab when the poll process was in progress.The FIR would be filed against the channel for violation of the Section 126 of the Representation of People Act (RPA) which says no person shall display to the public any election manner by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus. - Woman killed in Chhattisgarh
Raipur, Feb 13: Torrential rains lashed several parts of Chattisgarh today but no major damage or loss of life was reported, officials said.Bilaspur, Raipur along with other places bore the brunt of the downpour and normal life was partially affected. - Bail denied to undertrial injured while playing cricket
New Delhi, Feb 13: An undertrial, who sustained injuries while playing cricket in jail, was today denied interim bail by a city court."In view of the facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the opinion that the allegations against the applicant being serious, it shall not be proper to release him on interim bail," Additional Sessions Judge Narottam Kaushal said. - Snow, the white gold of Himachal
By Baldev S. Chauhan, Shimla, Feb 14: A heavy spell of snowfall in Himachal Pradesh has ended the long drought in the state, bringing cheer to apple and stone fruit growers as well as the tourism industry. - Man fined Rs 10,000 for concealing document from court
New Delhi, Feb 13: A man, who concealed a vital document to gain advantage over his mother and brothers in a property dispute, has been asked by a Delhi court to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 for playing fraud."Surender Singh deliberately and fraudulently concealed the registered relinquishment deed executed by him and obtained an ex parte preliminary partition decree," said Additional Sessions Judge Girish Kathpalia while directing him to pay the fine to his mother. - CM directs officials to ensure supply of essential commodities
Shimla, Feb 13: With communication disrupted at various places, especially high altitude areas, in Himachal Pradesh due to snowfall, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today directed officials to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities.Singh's directives came after he reviewed arrangements of supplying essential commodities all over the state in view of rain and snow for past three days, an official release said. - Bhutanese team witnesses Punjab polls
Hoshiarpur, Feb 13: A seven-member team from the Election Commission of Bhutan today witnessed the assembly polls in Punjab to get first-hand information of the electoral process ahead of the Himalayan kingdom's first general election next year.The team, led by G Tshering, visited polling booths, interacted with the electorate and met presiding officers and polling duty staff. - Two eclipses to enthral skywatchers in March
By Prashant K. Nanda, New Delhi, Feb 14: Early risers are in for a celestial treat in March with India witnessing a total lunar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse within a fortnight of each other. - Hooda orders survey of crops damaged by rains
Chandigarh, Feb 13: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today ordered a special assessment of the damage caused to crops by hailstorm and rains.Hooda also announced compensation of Rs. - BSF, Pakistani Rangers bi-annual meet to commence tomorrow
Jodhpur, Feb 13: Steps to check cross-border drug trafficking and construction of permanent defence structures near the International Border (IB) will be some of the issues which would be taken up during the bi-annual meeting between BSF and Pakistani Rangers beginning tomorrow.During the four-day long meeting at Jalandhar, the issue of disputed borderline of Sir Creek in Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and cross-border terrorism in J&K is likely to top the agenda, according to highly-placed sources. - Voting for Manipur's second phase polls begins
By Syed Zarir Hussain, Thoubal (Manipur), Feb 14: Voting began Wednesday in the second of the three-phased assembly elections in Manipur amid heavy security, officials said. An election official said that people in large numbers queued up in front of polling stations well before voting opened at 7. - Repatriation of tribal refugees to Mizoram uncertain
By Sujit Chakraborty, Agartala, Feb 14: The much-awaited process of repatriation of 33,000 Reang tribal refugees from Tripura to Mizoram hangs in the balance with the latter being reluctant to take them back.Over 300 tribal refugees are planning to launch a weeklong sit-in demonstration here from Feb 20 over the issue.
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