India

Hamirpur (UP), Oct 25 (PTI) A 49-year-old man tried to kill himself as part of a sacrificial ritual at a Shiv temple in Kurara area here, police said on Sunday.

Rukmani Mishra (49) reached Koteshwar Temple on Saturday night and tried to slit his throat with a knife, Superintendent of Police Narendra Kumar Singh said.

He was seriously injured and rushed to hospital, where his condition was said to be stable.

The SP said it appeared to be an act of superstition. A probe is on in the matter, he added.

Chandigarh, Oct 25 (PTI) Punjab farmers on Sunday burnt effigies of the Union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at several places in protest against the farm laws.

The protesters described the three farm legislations introduced by the Centre as black laws and raised slogans against the BJP-led Centre. They demanded that the withdrawal of the laws.

Farmers under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Mod in Amritsar.

Bulandshahr (UP), Oct 25 (PTI) Azad Samaj Party national president Chandra Shekhar Azad on Sunday claimed that shots were fired at his convoy in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr.

However, no complaint has been lodged in this regard so far with police saying the incident is yet to be confirmed.

Azad gave the information on his Twitter handle after an election rally for the assembly bypolls here. He tweeted that opposition parties were nervous as his outfit has fielded candidates in the elections.

Patna/Bhagalpur/Gaya, Oct 26 (PTI) With the campaign for the Bihar assembly election reaching a fever pitch, the Election Commission's warning of stern action for violation of COVID-19 protocol has gone unheeded with people gathering in huge numbers at rallies without wearing masks or caring for social distancing.

Pune, Oct 26 (PTI) A 43-year-old former president of a local Shiv Sena unit was shot dead in Lonavala hill town here in Maharashtra on Monday morning, police said.

The incident took place around 10 am when the victim, Rahul Shetty, was outside his tea shop at Jaychand chowk in Lonavala, located about 70 km from the Pune district headquarters, Superintendent of Police Abhinav Deshmukh said.

"There were two persons. One of them fired three rounds at Shetty when he was outside his tea shop," he said.

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) Asserting that India stands firmly with its brave soldiers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people to light a 'diya' at their homes to honour security forces guarding its borders while they celebrate festivals.

In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio broadcast, Modi wished people on Dussehra and said that with various festivals coming up, they need to show patience and follow health guidelines in celebrating these auspicious occasions during the COVID times.

Banda (UP), Oct 24 (PTI) A 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a man in Banda while she was returning home, police said on Saturday.

The incident took place late on Thursday night when the girl was returning home after watching Ram Leela, they said.

A 22-year-old man belonging to her village forcefully took her to his home and allegedly raped her, SHO of Atarra police station Akhilesh Mishra said.

An FIR was lodged in the matter and the accused, identified as Amar Verma, was arrested, he said.

New Delhi, Oct 24 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday ruled out reopening of schools in the national capital for now.

"Schools are not reopening for now," Kejriwal told reporters on sidelines of an event.

The government had earlier announced that schools will continue to remain closed till October 31 in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

Raigarh, Oct 24 (PTI) A 22-year-old man and his minor relative have been detained for allegedly raping a woman and attempting to kill her in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district, police said on Saturday.

The accused identified as Santosh Yadav and his teenaged relative were apprehended by the police on Friday, Raigarh additional superintendent of police (ASP) Abhishek Verma said.

New Delhi, Oct 24 (PTI) The Congress on Saturday accused the BJP of showing insensitivity towards the Hoshiarpur rape victim and said the ruling party was politicising the issue due to Bihar elections.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that unlike the Uttar Pradesh government, the Punjab government was not denying that the girl was raped and it was not blocking justice.

He said if they did, he would go there and fight for justice too.