Indian Sub-continent

Noida, Feb 16 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh minister Sunil Bharala on Wednesday announced support to the two persons arrested by the state police for attack on AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Asadaddin Owaisi.

Bharala assured the families of the accused -- Sachin Sharma and Shubham -- of fair probe into the February 4 attack on Owaisi in western UP in which the parliamentarian escaped gunshots fired at his car.

Alappuzha, Feb 17 (PTI) A young RSS worker was stabbed to death in Haripad area of Alappuzha district following an argument at a nearby temple, where he had gone to perform a 'thalam' dance, police said on Thursday.

Three people have been taken into custody in connection with the incident and that the post mortem and inquest proceedings are yet to get over.

Reacting to the killing, BJP state president K Surendran told reporters in Thrissur that the victim was an RSS worker and he was mercilessly stabbed to death by members of a drug mafia.

New Delhi, Feb 17 (PTI) The hustle and bustle of Delhi University's North Campus returned after almost two years on Thursday as excited students made their way back to colleges on the first day of resumption of offline classes.

The Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station witnessed long queues of students. Many were waiting for their friends to arrive so that they could head for college together.

Ahmedabad, Feb 17 (PTI) Gujarat Congress spokesperson Jayrajsinh Parmar resigned from the party on Thursday, claiming the organisation sidelined him for a long time and that it has become a "personal property" of some select leaders who cannot even win polls.

Amid speculations that he may join the ruling BJP in Gujarat, where the Assembly elections are due later this year, Parmar told reporters here that he will share his future plans afterwards.

New Delhi, Feb 16 (PTI) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to suspend the seven-year term awarded to real estate barons Sushil and Gopal Ansal in the Uphaar fire tragedy evidence tampering case.

As far as Ansal brothers are concerned, I am rejecting their application, said Justice Subramonium Prasad.

Bengaluru, Feb 16 (PTI) Chaos prevailed on Wednesday in several pre-university colleges in Karnataka, which were opened on Wednesday after remaining shut for a week owing to the Hijab row, as the Burqa-clad Muslim students were not let in.

Amid tight security with policemen deployed in and around Pre-university colleges at many sensitive places, the day saw a section of Muslim students remaining adamant not to remove the Burqa, let alone Hijab, the Islamic scarves.

Lucknow, Feb 15 (PTI) An estimated 64.42 per cent voting was recorded in the second phase of the assembly elections in 55 constituencies spread over nine districts in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, according to the Election Commission.

Saharanpur recorded a turnout of 71.13 per cent, Bijnor 65.91, Moradabad 67.26, Sambhal 62.87, Rampur 64.26, Amroha 71.98, Budaun 59.24, Bareilly 61.67 and Shahjahanpur 59.34 per cent, a statement issued by the election office said here on Tuesday.

Patna, Feb 15 (PTI) Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief, Chirag Paswan was detained by Patna police along with his supporters during a protest march demanding dismissal of the Nitish Kumar government here on Tuesday.

The march had begun at the historic Gandhi Maidan and Paswan and his supporters were detained near the Income Tax roundabout as they were proceeding to Raj Niwas (governor's house).

Imphal, Feb 15 (PTI) Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Tuesday mounted a blistering attack on the BJP in Manipur, accusing the state's ruling party of having disrespected people's mandate, and used "bullying and bribing" as a tool to form the government in the state where the Congress had emerged as the single largest party in the 2017 elections.

Promising to pursue "politics of development", she said more jobs will be created in the state whose potential for tourism will be fully utilised.

Hyderabad, Feb 15 (PTI) BJP MLA in Telangana T Raja Singh on Tuesday triggered a controversy with his comments that those "traitors" who did not vote in support of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh will have repercussions post elections.

Observing that those opposed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appeared to have voted in large numbers in some areas in the second phase of polling on Monday resulting in "highest polling", he appealed to the Hindu voters in UP to come out and vote in the third phase.