India

NEW DELHI, Nov 22 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia’s national oil company, PETRONAS is accelerating efforts to strengthen its business footprint in India by providing more innovative, tailor-made solutions that add value to the country’s energy aspirations.

With more than 20 years of strategic partnerships covering six business segments in India, PETRONAS continues to support the country’s aspiration to grow sustainably by pushing the boundaries of its expertise and technological advancements.

Varanasi, Nov 22 (PTI) The Faculty of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has reopened, the university announced, after days of protests by a section of students over the appointment of a Muslim professor at the department.

"The Faculty of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan, Banaras Hindu University, has reopened," a tweet by the university said on Thursday.

Ahmedabad, Nov 21 (PTI) Self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda, booked in a criminal case related to his ashram here, has fled the country, with the Gujarat police working to gather concrete evidence against him after taking two of his disciples in remand, officials said on Thursday.

An FIR was registered on Wednesday against the controversial guru on the charges of kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children to make them collect donations from followers to run his ashram here, Yogini Sarvagyapeetham.

New Delhi, Nov 21 (PTI) India on Thursday asked Pakistan to repatriate two Indians arrested on charges of entering the country illegally, and hoped that they are not used for Pakistani propaganda.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the sudden arrest of Prashant Vaindam and Dhari Lal as reported by Pakistani media came as a surprise to India as Islamabad was informed months ago about their possible crossing over to that country inadvertently.

Ayodhya, Nov 21 (PTI) The Vishva Hindu Parishad took out the "Ram baraat" with much fanfare from Ayodhya on Thursday.

The procession will reach Janakpur in Nepal, which is considered as the ancestral place of Sita.

The wedding procession is expected to reach Janakpur by November 28, where the wedding of Lord Rama and Sita will be celebrated on December 1.

Srinagar, Nov 21 (PTI) A mentally unstable Pakistan-occupied Kashmir resident, who had inadvertently crossed over to the Indian territory, was returned to Pakistani authorities on Thursday as a goodwill gesture, police said.

"Today, Kupwara police repatriated a Pakistani national identified as Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Pajkote," a police spokesman said.

He was handed over to Pakistani authorities via Teetwal in Jammu and Kashmir's frontier district, Kupwara, he said.

Hyderabad, Nov 21 (PTI) A 'devotional' thief decamped with the silver crown of a deity at a temple here after offering prayers with folded hands with a video of his act caught on CCTV camera going viral, police said on Thursday.

The incident occurred at the Goddess Durga temple in Abids on wednesdy evening when there was none in the temple, they said adding a case had been registered and investigations were on.

Mumbai, Nov 21 (PTI) There has been a rise of 22 per cent in rape cases in Mumbai and 51 per cent in instances of sexual assault from 2014-15 to 2018-19, according to the NGO Praja Foundation.

The NGO, in its report published on Thursday, said there has been an alarming increase in the number of crime cases against women and children in the metropolis.

Coochbehar (WB), Nov 22 (PTI) Two persons have been lynched over suspicion of cattle theft in Coochbehar district and 14 persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the incident, police said.

It took place on Thursday in Mathabanga area when Rabiul Islam and Prakash Das were ferrying two cows in a van.

Kolkata, Nov 22 (PTI) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Kolkata around 10.30 am on Friday to inaugurate India's maiden Day/Night Test match at the iconic Eden Gardens stadium.

India is taking on Bangladesh in its first-ever pink- ball Test match, seven years after the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave its approval to the format.

Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly received Hasina at the airport.