India

Bhopal, Sep 27 (PTI) The Congress in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday released its second list of nine nominees, comprising three BJP turncoats, for the upcoming bypolls on 28 seats, a party spokesman said.

In the first list released on September 11, the Congress had picked 15 nominees, including 11 for reserved seats. In that list too, the Congress had chosen six turncoats - four from the BJP and two from the BSP.

Banda, Sep 28 (PTI) A CRPF jawan was arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh's Banda, police said on Monday.

According to a complaint lodged by the minor on July 12, CRPF jawan Brijesh Kushwaha (39) allegedly thrashed her and raped her on June 5 when she had gone to his house looking for a room on rent.

Aligarh (UP), Sep 28 (PTI) The 19-year-old Dalit woman, who was raped by four men in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district, was shifted to AIIMS, Delhi on Monday after her condition showed no signs of improvement.

The woman was gangraped a fortnight ago, following which she was admitted to the AMU's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital.

Raipur, Sep 28 (PTI) A Naxal was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's insurgency- hit Bijapur district on Monday, police said.

The gun-battle took place around 9.30 am in a forest between Pedapal and Pidiya villages under Gangaloor police station limits when joint teams of various security forces were out on an anti-Naxal operation, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI.

Lucknow Sep 28 (PTI) UPCC president Ajay Kumar Lallu and other party workers were held while staging protest against the new farm laws in the state capital on Monday, a party leader said.

Led by the UPCC president, Congress workers from all over the state converged at the Parivartan Chowk here and staged a protest against the "anti-farm" laws, party's media convenor Lalan Kumar said.

While trying to move towards the Raj Bhawan, party workers and its chief were held, Kumar said.

New Delhi, Sep 28 (PTI) NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma wrote to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Monday, demanding strict action against the senior police officer who is seen beating and abusing his wife in a purported video.

In the video, Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (Prosecution) Purushottam Sharma is seen thrashing his wife, while the latter is seen resisting the assault.

It is further reported that this incident took place after the official's wife found out about his alleged extra-marital affair.

New Delhi, Sep 28 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that the agriculture-related laws are a "death sentence" for farmers whose voice has been crushed both inside and outside Parliament.

"The agriculture laws are a death sentence to our farmers. Their voice is crushed in Parliament and outside. Here is proof that democracy in India is dead," he said on Twitter.

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s confirmed coronavirus tally reached 6 million cases on Monday, keeping the country second to the United States in number of reported cases since the pandemic began.

The Health Ministry reported 82,170 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, driving the overall tally to 60,74,703. At least 1,039 deaths were also recorded in the same period, taking total fatalities up to 95,542.

New Delhi, Sep 27 (PTI) State-owned Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) has been forced to pay for its defaulting partner Videocon Industries Ltd after it had relied on a rarely used model to acquire stake in five oil blocks in Brazil, sources said.

In September 2008, BPCL and Videocon Industries had formed a 50:50 joint venture to acquire a Brazilian oil exploration firm for USD 283 million.

The two firms formed an incorporated joint venture IBV Brasil Petroleo Limitada to acquire Encana Brasil Petroleo Limitada from Canadian gas producers EnCana.

Ayodhya (UP), Sep 27 (PTI) Real estate prices in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh have doubled since the Ram temple 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony with scores of people wishing to own a property in the holy land.

Property rates started rising in the district last year after the Supreme Court paved the way for the construction of the temple at the site where devout Hindus believe god Ram was born. And the prices have shot up since the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony in August this year.