India

Imphal, Dec 8 (PTI) Supporting the movement, spearheaded by the Manipur People Against CAB (Manpac), protesters came out in large numbers in many areas of the city on Sunday while women vendors of a temporary market here staged a sit-in against the proposed legislation.

The women vendors of the Panthoibi temporary market at Khwairamban Keithel stopped their daily work and joined the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, a market committee official said.

Nashik, Dec 8 (PTI) A seven-year-old girl was raped on Sunday allegedly by her 27-year-old neighbour in Nashik in Maharashtra, police said.

The accused, identified as Kailas Kokani, was beaten up by angry locals in Ambad locality and handed over to police, an official said.

Kokani lured the girl under the pretext of playing with her and showing cartoons on television in his house. He then allegedly sexually assaulted her in afternoon.

Gangtok, Dec 9 (PTI) Amid nationwide outrage over the recent cases of rape and murder, the Sikkim Police has launched a free ride scheme under which any woman in the state capital who is alone and unable to find transport services at night will be dropped home in a vehicle free of cost.

The scheme, launched by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Sunday, is aimed at ensuring women's safety at odd hours, an official said.

Muzaffarpur (Bihar), Dec 9 (PTI) A young woman was allegedly set on fire by a neighbour after she resisted his attempt to rape her, a police officer said here on Monday.

The 23-year-old victim, who suffered 50 per cent burns in the incident, was currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in the Muzaffarpur town, he said.

Pratapgarh, Dec 9 (PTI) A man has been arrested here for allegedly raping a 14-year-old deaf girl here, police said on Monday.

Sangramgarh Police Station SHO Tusharkant Tyagi said that the accused was arrested on Sunday and a case registered against him under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act.

Kolkata, Dec 9 (PTI) West Bengal has emerged as one of the least corrupt states in the country, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday citing a recent survey conducted in 20 states.

Banerjee said this on the International Anti- Corruption Day citing the 'India Corruption Survey 2019' which was conducted by the Transparency International India and Local Circles.

New Delhi, Dec 9 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said in Lok Sabha that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 is not against minorities but against infiltrators.

Introducing the bill, Shah said the Congress "divided" the country on the basis of religion that is why it was necessary to bring the bill.

Shah said the proposed legislation is being brought on the basis of reasonable classifications provided under the Constitution and it does not violate any of its provisions.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian fire officials said they were able to douse a smoldering fire in a New Delhi building Monday, a day after a blaze there killed 43 people.

Fire officials said they received a distress call about the smoke coming from the building early Monday and firefighters rushed to the four-story building that housed illegal factories.

KANPUR: A very large board on Purani Chungi turn of the road leading towards Jajmau displays a message Happy New Year 2020. Greetings much in advance say the road users adding that the year's last month has yet not on the verge of completion. Then what is hurry in displaying the message? Question a good many passers-by.

The road remains busy from morning till late at night and every eye falls on the big, bold letters of the usual coming fresh year's greeting. 

New Delhi, Dec 8 (PTI) Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan said India is in the midst of a "growth recession" with signs of deep malaise in the Indian economy that is being run through extreme centralisation of power in Prime Minister's Office and powerless ministers.