India

Death toll in India's hooch tragedy rises to 156

NEW DELHI, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The death toll due to consumption of illicit liquor in India's northeastern state of Assam Sunday rose to 156, local government officials said.

Over 200 victims, mostly the tea garden workers, are undergoing treatment in different hospitals.

The hooch was consumed by people on Thursday evening at Halmira tea estate in Golaghat and adjacent Jorhat districts, east of Dispur, the capital city of Assam.

According to officials, so far 85 deaths have taken place in Golaghat, while as 71 have died in adjacent Jorhat district.

India: Twin kids kidnapped then killed; Bajrang Dal leader's brother arrested

Two upper KG students were kidnapped in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh by two masked men at gunpoint for ransom, then tied and dumped in a river in U.P.

Bodies of the twin brothers were recovered from the Yamuna in Banda district of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh late on Saturday.

India: 3 arrested after woman alleges gangrape

Muzaffarnagar, Feb 24 (PTI) Police Sunday arrested three persons from the district after a 23-year-old woman alleged they abducted and raped her.

The three accused -- Shubam, Gaurav and Atul -- were arrested in connection with the gangrape case at a village under Mansurpur police station in the district.

Police said the woman has alleged that she was abducted and gangraped on February 22.

India: 7-year-old raped, youth held

Shahjahanpur (UP), Feb 24 (PTI) A youth has been arrested on charges of raping a seven-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district, police said Sunday.

The minor was returning home on Saturday when the accused, Rahul Kashyap (22), dragged her into an agriculture field in Allahganj town -- 52 km from here -- and allegedly raped her, district Superintendent of Police (Rural) Subhash Shakya said.

Indian National Alliance of Journalists cautions against jingoism

New Delhi, February 23; GANASHAKTI: The National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ) has cautioned against jingoism, mental militarization and spreading hatred against communities, in the aftermath of the brutal killing of CRPF personals in Pulwama.

It has also requested colleagues in some TV channels in particular, to desist from warmongering and at times, even acting as military strategists and advisers- rather than play the role of newspersons seeking to restore peace and stability, in these sensitive times.

India: 300 Vehicles Gutted in Fire at Bengaluru Aero Show Venue

Bengaluru, February 23; GANASHAKTI: 300 vehicles were gutted in a fire that broke out in a parking lot at the venue of the 2019 Aero India show being conducted by the defence ministry at the Yelahanka air base. No casualties have been reported. The fire has been extinguished completely, said DGP of Fire Services MN Reddi. 

According to a policeman, around 100 cars were affected in the blaze after one car caught fire. To control the fire, more than 10 fire engines have been rushed to the spot.

India: Vadra moves court seeking copy of case from ED

New Delhi, Feb 23 (PTI) Robert Vadra, facing Enforcement Directorate probe in cases of money laundering, moved an application in a Delhi court Saturday, seeking copy of case-related documents with the central agency.

Special judge Arvind Kumar posted the matter for February 25.

The application was moved through senior advocate KTS Tulsi.

India: 150 people, most from Jamaat-e-Islami, detained in JK

Srinagar, Feb 23 (PTI) Nearly 150 people, mainly from the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir including its chief Abdul Hamid Fayaz, were detained during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday as tension gripped the Valley ahead of a hearing by the Supreme Court on Article 35A of the Constitution.

Though police termed the detentions as routine saying that leaders and potential stone pelters have been picked up in the past, officials privy to the developments said this is the first major crackdown on the Jamaat-e-Islamia.

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