Indian Sub-continent

Chennai, Dec 17 (PTI): Banking services across Tamil Nadu remained hit for the second day on Friday with employees union staging a protest against the proposed privatisation of nationalised banks by the government.

Several bank branches were shut following the two-day strike call given by the unions - All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), United Forum of Bank Union, All India Bank Officers' Confederation and National Organisation of Bank Workers - on December 16 and 17.

Diphu (Assam), Dec 17 (PTI) Jackson Ronghang, the self-styled chairman of newly formed insurgent outfit Karbi Democratic Liberation Front (KDLF), which was allegedly involved in the recent abduction of three construction workers, was killed in an encounter with the police in Assam's Karbi Anglong district on Friday, a senior officer said.

Jaipur, Dec 16 (PTI) A girl has accused four men of gang-raping and blackmailing her on the basis of a video they shot during the crime here.

The 16-year-old alleged that Vishwas Meena, Tarachand Meena and Krishna Meena abducted her from her farm in June, took her to an isolated place and gang-raped her. Another accused, Sachin Meena, who was already present there, joined the other three.

The girl said the accused had shot a video of the gang-rape and threatened her of leaking it in case she spilt the beans.

Jaipur, Dec 16 (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said those who indulge in divisive politics should think about the future of the country.

He said Pakistan became a nation on the basis of religion but was divided into two countries.

He said Bangladesh was created in 1971 despite the fact that majority population was Muslim.

Doing politics in the name of religion is easy, provoking people in the name of caste is easy, spreading hate is easy but difficult to take back when it is spread.

Mathura (UP), Dec 16 (PTI) A petition has been filed at a local court here seeking prohibition on namaz at the Shahi Idgah, located close to the temple in Shri Krishna Janmasthan here.

In recent months, some organisations have moved the courts here seeking the 'removal' of the Idgah claiming it is built in the "actual birthplace" of Lord Krishna.

The court has been requested to pass an injunction order restraining the Muslim community from offering namaz in Shahi Masjid Idgah and on adjacent road, Mahendra Pratap Singh, the petitioner said in his application.

Lucknow, Dec 16 (PTI) Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday announced alliance with his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia).

The announcement came after a meet between the SP chief and Shivpal at the latter's residence in the afternoon.

"Met national president of PSPL and finalised alliance. The SP's policy to take along regional parties is strengthening the party and take SP and its allies towards victory," Akhilesh said in a tweet in Hindi after the meeting.

Tirunelveli (TN), Dec 16 (PTI) Days after the Madras High Court quashed an FIR against him filed over a deleted tweet vis a vis the IAF copter crash in which CDS General Bipin Rawat and 13 others were killed, well-known YouTuber Maridhas was arrested on Thursday for his video against the Tablighi Jamat members put out in April 2020, police said.

He was arrested over a complaint registered last April. The Melapalayam police here booked him for various offences under the IPC and IT Act.

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 16 (PTI) The UAE government has promised to open a state-of-the-art food park in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday.

Vijayan, after his meeting with the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, said the gulf nation will set up three food parks in India, and one of them will come up in the southern state.

Guwahati, Dec 16 (PTI) Pitching for opposition unity to take on the BJP, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram targeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying the seriousness of a political entity in combating the saffron party should be called into question if it is reluctant about coming under one umbrella.

The former Union minister was responding to questions at a press conference where he was asked about Banerjee unleashing a relentless assault on the Congress while questioning its ability to fight the BJP.

New Delhi, Dec 16 (PTI) The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Friday a plea challenging the setting up of a commission of inquiry by the West Bengal government to probe into the Pegasus snooping allegations.

The matter was mentioned on Thursday before a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana by the lawyer appearing for the petitioner NGO who submitted that the commission was going ahead with the probe despite the fact that the top court has constituted an expert committee in the case.