India

New Delhi, Nov 20, GANASHAKTI: There have been 5,161 "preventive arrests", including politicians, separatists and stone pelters, in Kashmir Valley since August 4, the day before Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 was revoked, the government informed Parliament on Wednesday.

The Centre also announced its decision to bifurcate the state into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh on August 5.

New Delhi, Nov 21 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Thursday told the Jammu and Kashmir administration that it will have to respond to each and every question raised on the restrictions imposed in the erstwhile state after the abrogation of Article 370.

A bench headed by Justice NV Ramana told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the administration, that petitioners challenging the restrictions have argued in detail and he will have to answer all questions.

Aurangabad, Nov 20 (PTI) Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, will deliver two lectures at the three-day Global Buddhist Congregation to be held in Aurangabad from Friday.

The event will take place between November 22 and 24.

"The Dalai Lama will be in Aurangabad for two days and will deliver two sessions at the Buddhist Congregation," monk Sadanand Mahasthivir Mahathero, president of All India Bhikkhu Sangh, told reporters here on Wednesday.

Aurangabad, Nov 20 (PTI) An entrepreneur, owning a small metal polishing unit in Waluj Industrial area, committed suicide, after failing to pay Goods and Services Tax (GST), police said on Wednesday.

Vishnu Rambhau Kalavane (53) hanged himself from the ceiling with a saree at his home in Pandharpur area on Tuesday, an official said.

Sagardighi(WB), Nov 20 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday challenged the Centre on the contentious NRC issue and iterated that she will never allow the exercise in the state.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said a citizen's register on the lines of the NRC exercise in Assam will be implemented out across the country.

Stating that NRC in Assam was part of Assam Accord signed during the tenure of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, she said the exercise can never be implemented across the country.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) WhatsApp has written to the government expressing "regret" over the Pegasus snooping row, and has assured that it is taking all security measures to address concerns, top government sources said.

The sources, who requested not to be named, said the government has asked WhatsApp to reinforce its security wall, and that no more breaches at the messaging platform will be tolerated.

Amaravati, Nov 20 (PTI) English will be the medium of instruction for classes 1 to 6 in all schools in Andhra Pradesh replacing native language Telugu, beginning from the next academic year, with Telugu or Urdu being a compulsory subject.

State Principal Secretary (School Education) B Rajsekhar issued an order on Wednesday to convert all classes from 1 to 6 in primary, upper primary, high schools under all managements into English medium from academic year 2020-21.

Hamirpur, November 20 (PTI) A man was arrested on Wednesday on the charge of raping his minor daughter in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district eight years ago, police said.

He was taken into custody following a complaint by his 17-year-old daughter, a police spokesman said.

Itanagar, Nov 20 (PTI) Political parties, student bodies and community based organizations of Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday "unequivocally" opposed the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in its present form at a meeting here.

The "final meeting" of all the stakeholders also took a resolution that provisions of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 and the Chin Hills Regulation, 1896 should be incorporated while amending the Citizenship Act.

The two Regulations protect the indigenous tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh.

Balasore (Odisha) November 20 (PTI) India successfully testfired on Wednesday the indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-2 missile at night as part of a user trial by the Army from a test range off Odisha coast, an official said.

Two Prithvi-2 missiles were test fired consecutively and both tests met all parameters, the official said from the Interim Test Range at Chandipur.