Maharashtra

Mumbai, Feb 7 (PTI) The Reserve Bank of India Thursday cut benchmark interest rate by 0.25 per cent to 6.25 per cent on expectation of inflation staying within its target range, a move that may translate into lower monthly installments for home and other loans.

The central bank also changed its monetary policy stance to 'neutral' from the earlier 'calibrated tightening', signalling further softening on its approach towards interest rates.

Mumbai, Feb 6 (PTI) The Maharashtra government will soon make forcing a woman to undergo virginity test a punishable offence, it said Wednesday.

Certain communities in the state follow a custom whereby a newly-wed woman has to prove that she was virgin prior to the marriage.

Mumbai, Feb 4 (PTI) Dalit scholar and rights activist Anand Teltumbde, who was briefly arrested by the Pune police last week in the Elgaar Parishad case, Monday said the "Urban Maoist" was a bogey that was being raised to "silence" those who raise their voice against policies of the government.

Teltumbde, who teaches at the Goa Institute of Management, was arrested by Pune police Saturday at the Mumbai airport, despite the supreme court having granted him time till February 11 to seek anticipatory bail.

Ahmednagar/Mumbai, Feb 4 (PTI) Social activist Anna Hazare, whose indefinite fast for appointment of anti-corruption watchdogs entered the sixth day Monday, has refused to call off his protest saying the government is handling the issue of corruption in a casual manner.

The talks between Union minister Subhash Bhamre, state minister Girish Mahajan and Hazare in the latter's Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmed Nagar district, the venue of his fast since January 30, remained inconclusive Monday.

Thane, Feb 5 (PTI) A 61-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly molesting and stalking a woman in Thane district of Maharashtra, police said on Tuesday.

The 60-year-old woman, who worked as a domestic help, told the Naupada police that the accused, Prakash Mhatre, had allegedly been stalking her for last four months in the Makhmali Talao locality because of which she had to leave several jobs in the area, a police official said.

Mumbai, Feb 5 (PTI) The Shiv Sena Tuesday attacked the Modi government over the face-off between the West Bengal government and the CBI, alleging that it was "orchestrated" for political gains in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The Sena, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', said what was happening in Kolkata was a "threat to democracy".

Ralegan Siddhi (Maha), Feb 3 (PTI) Social activist Anna Hazare, whose indefinite hunger strike entered the fifth day on Sunday, warned that if the Narendra Modi government did not fulfil its promises, he would return his Padma Bhushan.

Earlier in the day, Bharatiya Janata Party ally Shiv Sena came out in Hazare's support, urging him to emulate socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan and lead an agitation against corruption.

Nagpur, Feb 2 (PTI) Suspected naxals Saturday killed two villagers in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, apparently on suspicion that they are police informers.

The incident occurred in the wee hours when some ultras dragged Girma Kadyami and Samru Kosni, both residents of Markegaon village in Dhanora taluka, out of their houses and shot them dead, said Gadchiroli superintendent of police Shailesh Balkawde.

Palghar (Maha), Feb 2 (PTI) Two persons were Saturday arrested in Maharashtra's Palghar district for illegal transportation of 1200 kg red meat, suspected to be that of bulls, police said.

The arrests were made in Mokhada village at around 2 AM, following a tip-off by a Bajrang Dal functionary, an official release stated.

Police have impounded the vehicle carrying the meat, whose value has been estimated to be Rs 1.44 lakh.

Mumbai, Feb 2 (PTI) A POCSO court sentenced a man to 20 years imprisonment on Saturday for raping his minor neighbour in Dharavi area here.

The accused, Kisan Damodar (53), was found guilty under section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act by additional Session Judge S J Gharat.