India

Bhopal, Oct 16 (PTI) A recent health camp conducted to test the fitness levels of police personnel in Bhopal revealed that 50 per cent of Bhopal policemen suffer from diabetes and hypertension.

Around 200 personnel of Bhopal police were examined at the health camp conducted by a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) at Madhya Pradesh police's Police Training and Research institute on Monday.

During the health camp, 50 per cent of policemen were diagnosed for diabetes and hypertension, and 70 per cent suffered from stress.

New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday made it clear that it will conclude today the day-to-day hearing in the politically sensitive Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case at Ayodhya, saying "enough is enough".

A 5-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that it is hearing the Ayodhya land dispute case for the last 39 days and no more time beyond today will be granted to parties to conclude the hearing in the case.

New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday attacked the Uttar Pradesh government over its decision to do away with 25,000 home guards and asked what sort of "craziness" has taken over the mind of the dispensation.

The Congress general secretary made the remarks after the BJP government in the state on Tuesday announced that it was doing away with 25,000 home guards as the state could not afford the new allowances the Supreme Court has asked it to pay.

New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) India's exports contracted by 6.57 per cent to USD 26 billion in September mainly due to significant dip in shipments from key sectors such as petroleum, engineering, leather, chemicals, and gems & jewellery.

Imports too declined by 13.85 per cent to USD 36.89 billion, narrowing trade deficit to USD 10.86 billion in September, according to official data released on Tuesday.

Trade deficit in September last year stood at USD 14.95 billion.

New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday appointed 51 district and city presidents in Uttar Pradesh, days after it revamped the state unit.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi gave approval to the appointment of the district and city presidents, a statement issued by AICC general secretary organisation K C Venugopal said.

Ramraj Gond, the young tribal leader who facilitated the meeting between the family members of the victims of those killed in a clash in Sonbhadra and Priyanka Gandhi, was made district president of Sonbhadra.

Amaravati, Oct 15 (PTI) Unidentified assailants hacked to death the local reporter of a Telugu daily in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday night, police said.

K Satyanarayana, 45, reporter of Andhra Jyothy, died on the spot while the assailants fled after committing the crime, they said.

The incident occurred at S Annavaram village.

New Delhi, Oct 16 (PTI) Many areas in the Delhi-National Capital Region recorded air quality in the "very poor" category on Wednesday morning, with particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter being the primary pollutant.

Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (299) also bordered "very poor" levels. On Tuesday, it stood at 270 at 4 pm.

Seventeen of the 37 air quality monitoring stations in the national capital recorded the overall AQI in the "very poor" category, according to data of the Central Pollution Control Board.

SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Indian security forces killed three separatist fighters, while suspected militants shot dead a migrant worker on one of the bloodiest days in Kashmir since New Delhi revoked the disputed region’s autonomy and special status more than two months ago.

The killings on Wednesday were the first since mobile telephone services were restored as part of gradual relaxation of security measures taken to curb violent unrest in Jammu and Kashmir state.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India’s Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered an end to hearings in a long-running dispute between Hindus and Muslims over a place of worship, laying the ground for a verdict that could lead to further divisions.

Hindus believe that the site in the northern town of Ayodhya is the birthplace of god-king Lord Ram and want a temple built on the ruins of a mosque that was torn down by zealots in 1992, triggering riots across the country.

Akola, Oct 16 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar's values are the basis for nation-building.

His remarks came a day after the BJP raised the demand for the Bharat Ratna honour for Savarkar, one of the tallest Hindutva icons in the pantheon of Sangh Parivar, in its manifesto for the October 21 Maharashtra polls.

Addressing an election rally in the state's Akola district, Modi rued that Savarkar was denied the Bharat Ratna.