India

Thane, Mar 19 (PTI) The body of a 33-year-old woman was found in a forest area of Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district in the wee hours of Friday, police said.

The body was recovered from a hillock in Shelar village and the police suspect that she was allegedly raped before being murdered.

"The woman had gone to graze her cattle on Thursday, but did not return home till night. Sensing that something was amiss, a search was carried by her husband and villagers and her body was found in the wee hours," an official of Bhiwandi taluka police station said.

Banda (UP), Mar 19 (PTI) A 22-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly raped for two years by a man on the false promise of marriage here, police said on Friday.

The woman, who hailed from Mahoba district, lodged a complaint on Thursday evening at City Kotwali police station following which an FIR was registered against the accused.

She alleged that Utkarsh Sachan (25), who lived in her neighbourhood, had been raping her since the past two years on the promise of marriage, Station House Officer Jaishyam Shukla said.

Shimla, Mar 19 (PTI) The opposition Congress in Himachal Pradesh on Friday sought a high-level probe into the death of BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma, who was found hanging from the ceiling at his official residence in New Delhi.

Raising the issue soon after Question Hour in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri stated that the people of the state in general and of his Mandi segment in particular wanted to know the exact cause of his "mysterious death".

New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) Over 14,500 children in the country have been adopted since 2017, including 2,094 by foreign citizens, the Women and Child Development Ministry said on Friday.

In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said 12,867 children were adopted by Indians and 2,094 by foreign citizens from 2017 to 2021 (till March 16).

In 2017-18, 3,276 children were adopted by Indians while 651 were adopted by foreign citizens.

New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) India saw 39,726?new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, the highest single day rise recorded so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19?tally of cases to 11,514,331,?according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday

The daily rise in infections (39,726) was the highest recorded in 110 days, while the death toll increased to 159,370 with 154 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Kanpur:  Jajmau's widest road was not crowded in the afternoon as enough vehicles were not moving due to the clear sun. The shops alongside the road were open but the customers were scant.

When people were asked about the vacant road, they simply answered it was mainly because of the heat. The temperature of the day is rising every day. In a bid to avoid sun rays the activity remains low during the time 12.30 to 3.00 p.m. 

Guwahati, Mar 18 (PTI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is in Assam to canvas for Congress candidates, on Thursday likened the BJP regime with the British reign, and said the saffron camp has adopted "divisive and self-serving" policies, as did the colonial rulers.

Baghel, in a statement here, said the BJP was out to destroy peace and harmony in Assam.

Barabanki (UP), Mar 18 (PTI) A 16-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped by four people while she was returning from school in a village here, police said on Thursday.

Her father, who is contesting the upcoming panchayat elections, has alleged that the incident, which took place on Tuesday, was aimed at dissuading him from entering the poll fray, they said.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Manoj Pandey said the victim was sent for a medical examination, and a case was registered based on a complaint lodged by her father.

Chitrakoot (UP), Mar 17 (PTI) A case has been registered against five people for allegedly raping a 27-year-old woman in Uttar Pradesh's Chitrakoot district, police said on Wednesday.

The woman lodged a complaint on Tuesday, alleging that a youth and four of his friends reached her house in the night of March 5, took her to a field, and raped her, police said.

The case against the five was registered at Bharatkoop police station based on the woman's complaint, they said.

Agra (UP), Mar 17 (PTI) The blood-soaked body of a priest was found in a temple in a forest here, police said on Wednesday.

An axe, which was allegedly used to kill the priest, was also found lying near the body in Pathwari temple on Mau road in Khandari area here, they said.