I-T raids at Ekta Kapoor, Jeetendra, Tusshar Kapoor's residences

MUMBAI: Income Tax officials on Tuesday conducted searches at Balaji Telefilms' facilities and the residence of its promoters — producer Ekta Kapoor and her actor-father Jeetendra — here for suspected tax evasion.

Sleuths from the department swooped down on seven locations across the city, including the yesteryear star and his daughter's residence in suburban Juhu, as part of the searches, which began at 0700 hours, I-T sources said.

Sajjan Kumar acquitted, shoe thrown at judge

NEW DELHI: In a major relief to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, a Delhi court on Tuesday acquitted him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case while convicting five others for being a part of the mob that killed five Sikhs here.

District and sessions judge J R Aryan acquitted Kumar while convicting five others — Balwan Khokkar, an ex-councillor, Mahender Yadav, an ex-MLA, Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal — for their involvement in the case.

The pronouncement of judgement witnessed a huge uproar by the protesters one of whom hurled a shoe at the judge soon after he acquitted Kumar in the case of riots that broke out 29 years ago on October 31, 1984, after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Anti-Sikh riots: Court acquits Sajjan Kumar

New Delhi: In a big relief to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, a special CBI court in Karkardooma on Tuesday acquitted him in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.

The case pertains to violence in the Delhi Cantonment area. The Congress leader had been charged with murder, robbery, rioting, inciting violence, and damaging public property in that case.

The verdict triggered sharp protests outside the Karkardooma court by various Sikh organizations.

Virat Kohli nominated for Arjuna Award

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has nominated the dashing Delhi batsman Virat Kohli for the prestigious Arjuna Award for 2012.

Former legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar's name has also been proposed for Dhyanchand Award for his lifetime achievement.

Pervez Musharraf may be kidnapped, Pakistani authorities fear

Islamabad: Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf, who has returned home after over four years in self-exile, may be kidnapped, the Interior Ministry fears.

The ministry has said that Musharraf should not be taken anywhere, Geo News reported, citing a notification.

Musharraf, who returned to Pakistan March 23 after over four years of self-imposed exile in Dubai, was keen to contest the May 11 general elections. However, his nomination papers were rejected from four constituencies.

At least 21 killed, 78 wounded in Iraq attacks

Baghdad:At least 21 people were killed and 78 injured in attacks across Iraq Monday, mostly in the Shiite provinces, an interior ministry source said.

Two people were killed and 12 wounded when a car bomb exploded in Karbala, some 110 km from Baghdad, the source told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, at least six people were killed and 14 wounded in another car bomb attack in the Shiite district of Mahmodiyah, 30 km from Baghdad, he added.

Tokyo governor apologises for remarks on Muslims, Istanbul

Tokyo's outspoken governor, Naoki Inose, who heads the city's bid for the 2020 Olympics, apologised on Tuesday for "inappropriate" comments he made about rival candidate Istanbul and Islamic countries.

The remarks, made in a recent New York Times interview, prompted the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to investigate, while Turkey's sports minister said they were "unfair and disheartening" and "did not comply with the spirit of the values of the Olympic Movement".

"Islamic countries, the only thing they share in common is Allah and they are fighting with each other, and they have classes," Inose, who was elected Tokyo governor last year, said in the interview.

Shiv Sena condemns US over Azam Khan detention

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday came out in support of Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan who was last week detained at Boston airport while on his way to deliver a lecture at Harvard University.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said the US must clarify whether the treatment meted out to Azam Khan was because of his surname or because he was an Indian.

US cargo plane crash in Afghanistan kills 7

A civilian cargo plane owned by an American company crashed at Bagram Air Field, north of the Afghan capital, soon after takeoff on Monday, killing all seven people aboard, the US-led military coalition said.

The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for downing the Boeing 747-400, but Nato said in a statement to The Associated Press that the Taliban "claims are false." The coalition says the cause of the crash was being investigated by emergency crews that rushed to the site, but there was no sign of insurgent activity in the area at the time.

My brother is being kept alive artificially, Sarabjit's sister says

AMRITSAR: Blaming the Pakistan government for giving poor treatment to Sarabjit Singh, his sister Dalbir Kaur said she believed that Sarabjit Singh was being artificially kept alive by the doctors.

While talking to TOI over phone from Lahore on Tuesday, Dalbir Kaur said, "Even if Pakistani doctors declare my brother brain-dead, I wouldn't let them remove him from ventilators unless a team of doctors from India arrives and inspects his health."

Mumbai gets its first Shariah court to settle civil, marital disputes

MUMBAI: The city is set to get its first Darul Qaza or Shariah court to settle civil and marital disputes in the Muslim community. The court, set up by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board will serve to fill a long-felt need of the community.Shariah courts already function at many places in the country, such as Hyderabad, Patna and Malegaon. Here qazis appointed by the AIMPLB hear the community's various disputes, barring criminal cases, and deliver judgements.

Syrian deputy foreign minister calls on President Zardari

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari reiterated on Monday that Pakistan supports all efforts to facilitate a peaceful Syrian solution through a comprehensive political dialogue involving the entire spectrum of Syrian politics, including the government and opposition factions.

According to an official handout, the president stated this while speaking to Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad who called on him at the Bilawal House. The meeting was attended by Director Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ghassan Dallah, Syrian Chargé d'affaires Islamabad Dr Ali Muhra, Spokesperson to the President, Senator Farhatullah Babar, and Jalil Abbas Jilani,

Police checkpost attack in Hyderabad leaves two injured

HYDERABAD: A police head constable and a pedestrian received bullet injuries after a police checkpost of Tando Yusuf police station was attacked on Monday night by unidentified gunmen.

The policeman, identified as Khair Mohammad and a pedestrian Ali Hassan Zaunr, were shifted to Liaquat University Hospital branch.

The attackers fled away, according SHO Tahir Khanzada. Hyderabad has been in the grip of violence since Sunday night.

An ice cream shopowner, Rehmanullah and his employee Imtiaz Ali were attacked by gunmen in Qasimabad.

Electoral candidate killed in Jhal Magsi; polls postponed

NASIRABAD: An independent candidate from Balochistan’s Jhal Magsi area was killed by unknown assailants on Tuesday night prompting the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone the elections in PB 32.

According to the police and relatives of the deceased, Abdul Fateh Magsi was kidnapped on Tuesday night and his bullet-riddled body was found on Tuesday morning. He was contesting elections as an independent candidate for Balochistan Assembly from Jhal Magsi.

The killing was followed by an announcement by the provincial election commission of Balochistan that elections would be postponed in Jhal Magsi due to the incident.

Pakistan leave Afridi out of Champions Trophy squad

Experienced all rounder Shahid Afridi has been left out of the Pakistan squad for the ICC Champions Trophy that will be held in England while selectors have warned Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik that they are running out of chances.

The 32-year-old, who has played 354 one-day internationals, was the only senior player overlooked for the tournament with chief selector Iqbal Qasim saying Afridi's bowling had cost him his place in the squad.

"Afridi's bowling has not been up to the mark in recent matches," he said in a news conference on Monday.

Benazir murder case: Pervez Musharraf sent to 14 days JC

Islamabad: Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf was on Tuesday remanded to 14 days judicial custody by an anti-terrorism court for his alleged involvement in the murder of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Musharraf’s plea for reconstituting the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was also rejected by the court, as reported by a leading Pakistani daily Dawn.

Hezbollah getting chemical arms: Israel lawmaker

Jerusalem: A former Israeli defense minister alleged on Monday that Syria's chemical weapons are "trickling" to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. It was the first such claim by a senior politician in Israel, but he did not supply evidence to support his assertion.

Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, a retired general who is now a lawmaker from the opposition Labor party, told The Associated Press: "The process of weapon transferal to Hezbollah has begun."

He told Israel Radio that he "has no doubt" that Syrian President Bashar Assad has already used chemical weapons and that that "these weapons are trickling to Hezbollah."

India asks Pak to send Sarabjit back for treatment, punish his attackers

New Delhi: India on Monday appealed to Pakistan to faciliate the return of prisoner Sarabjit Singh who was attacked by his jail inmates on Friday afternoon. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "In view of the recent tragic events and present circumstances, we once again appeal to the Government of Pakistan to take a sympathetic and humanitarian view of this case, and release Sarabjit Singh."

Blast in Peshawar kills eight, including son of former Afghan minister

PESHAWAR: At least eight people were killed including the son of two-time former Afghan minister whereas 43 others were injured in a blast which took place at Peshawar's university road on Monday morning.

The son of a former two-time minister of Afghanistan and veteran Jihad leader Qazi Muhammad Amin Waqaud, Qazi Hilal Ameen was also killed in the Peshawar blast along with another Afghan national Idrees.

SC directs ECP to make all efforts for right of Vote to Overseas Pakistanis

The Supreme Court in its short order has directed that all efforts should be made to facilitate the Overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes in the upcoming general elections

The order was passed by a 3 member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry while hearing this case in Islamabad today. The court also disposed of this case.

Death anniversary of Urdu fiction writer A. Hameed

The 2nd death anniversary of well known Urdu fiction writer A.Hameed is being observed today (Monday‚ April 29).

Abdul Hameed‚ known as A Hameed‚ was born in 1928 in Amritsar (British India).

He passed his secondary education in Amritsar‚ passed intermediate in Pakistan as a private candidate and join Radio Pakistan as an assistant script editor. After working some years for Radio Pakistan‚ he joined Voice of America.

Former Iranian president softens stance toward Israel, says 2 countries not at war

Iran's influential former president has expressed a softer stance toward the country's archenemy Israel in sharp contrast to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad' typical anti-Israel remarks.

Several Iranian newspapers, including the pro-reform Shargh daily, on Monday quoted Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as saying: "We are not at war with Israel."

Pak officials dismiss report about sending Sarabjit Singh abroad for treatment

Pakistani officials today dismissed a report that a medical board was considering a proposal to send abroad Indian death row convict Sarabjit Singh – comatose in a Lahore hospital after a brutal assault – for treatment.

The four-member medical board headed by Jinnah Hospital chief executive Mahmood Shaukat conducted a routine examination of Sarabjit this morning, officials said.

They rejected a media report that the board was mulling a proposal to send Sarabjit abroad for treatment.

Pakistan investigators to quiz Rehman Malik in Bhutto killing case

Pakistani investigators probing the 2007 assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto have decided to quiz Rehman Malik after being told by Pervez Musharraf that the former interior minister had decided details of her security on the day she was killed.

Malik was head of Bhutto's security when she returned to Pakistan from self-exile in late 2007.

Chitrangada Singh learning Kathak, Urdu for her next film

Mumbai: Actress Chitrangada Singh is gearing up for her next film for which she is taking diction and dance lessons.

Chitrangada was last seen in 'I Me Aur Main' alongside John Abraham and Prachi Desai. The film, released in early March, did fairly well at the box office.

Three car bomb blasts kill 11 in Iraq Shia provinces

BAGHDAD: At least 11 people were killed and dozens wounded when three car bombs tore through public markets in Shia provinces in southern Iraq early on Monday, medics and police sources said.

Sectarian tensions are at their highest since US troops left Iraq more than a year ago and militant attacks have increased as the country's fragile intercommunal balance comes under growing strain from the civil war in neighbouring Syria.

More than 180 people have been killed since Tuesday, when security forces stormed a Sunni protest camp near Kirkuk, triggering clashes that quickly spread to other Sunni areas in western and northern provinces.

Islamic Jihad targeted by Israel

GAZA CITY: Israel’s air force carried out three strikes early yesterday in the Gaza Strip, targeting radical Palestinian group Islamic Jihad but causing no casualties, witnesses said.

Two airstrikes hit the southern town of Khan Yunis, targeting positions of the Al-Quds Brigade, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad.

The third was near the southern town of Rafah, near the Egyptian border, said the Palestinian witnesses. An Israeli Army spokeswoman confirmed the air force had carried out strikes in the Gaza Strip but told AFP she could not give further details.

Anti-Sikh riots : High Court defers verdict on Sajjan Kumar's plea

New Delhi:  The Delhi High Court today deferred its verdict on a plea of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar against a trial court order framing charges against him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in connection with the killings of six persons in Delhi's Sultanpuri area.The court had reserved the order against him in December last year. It has now posted the matter for hearing on May 15.

Pak panel to decide if Sarabjit Singh should be sent abroad for treatment

Pakistan has formed a panel of experts to decide whether Sarabjit Singh should be sent abroad for treatment, according to reports in Pakistani TV channels.

Pakistani doctors treating a comatose Sarabjit Singh on Sunday had said there was no improvement in his condition and chances of survival were "slim" even as his distraught family visited him and demanded that he be sent to India for better treatment.

Sarabjit was admitted to Jinnah Hospital on Friday night with a severe head injury. The 49-year-old Indian prisoner sustained injuries over a widespread area of his head that led to unconsciousness.

Centre in touch with Pakistan over Sarabjit Singh: Shinde

Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Sunday said that the ministry of home affairs and ministry of external affairs are constantly in touch with the Pakistani government to know the condition of Sarabjit Singh’s health.

Sarabjit, who was attacked by fellow prisoners at Lahore Jail, is battling for life at Jinnah Hospital.

Shinde, who was in Pune to attend a function, told media persons that the Indian government was making every possible effort to get details of Sarabjit’s health.

PPP willing to offer PM slot to Imran: Wattoo

OKARA: While Imran Khan is drawing huge crowds on his campaign trail, a senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) predicts that his party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) could form the next coalition government at the centre. He also foresees the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz as coalition partners in Punjab.

Dehli beat Pune by 15 runs

RAIPUR: A change in 'home' venue brought about a change in Delhi Daredevils' luck. The team that had lost seven of their eight games before this game, edged out Pune Warriors in a close finish at the swanky Veer Narayana Singh stadium on Sunday as Raipur made its debut on the T20 league map.

After Pune Warriors had made a strong start in chase of a target of 165, Daredevils bowlers hit back in the final overs to help their team clinch the issue by 15 runs, their just the second win of the season. With this win, Daredevils have finally managed to rise in the points table. The bottom place is occupied by Pune now.

PPP seen only in ads: Nawaz

MURREE: PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has said PPP now exists only in newspaper and TV advertisements because of the flawed and anti-people policies of its government.

“The party adhered to the policies of Musharraf and as a result the country is facing the darkest hour of its history,” he said while addressing an election meeting of his party on the Mall Road here on Sunday.

He said President Asif Zardari complained of criticism against him but how could he be praised for his ‘corruption and bad governance’.

Blast in Peshawar kills six

PESHAWAR: At least five people were killed and dozens, including a policeman and a boy, were injured in a blast which took place at Peshawar’s university road on Monday morning, DawnNews reported.

According to sources, suspected militants aimed at targeting a police mobile van in the capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The explosion also hit a passenger bus which was moving along the police mobile.

PML-N member dies in scuffle with PPP workers

DADU: At least one person died in a fight between workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) in Dadu on Sunday, reported Express News.

According to initial reports, the fight broke out over an issue of putting up party banners and flags in an area.

The brawl led to an exchange of fire between the two parties, resulting in the death of one person belonging to the PML-N.

Iran ready to host meet on Syria

Tehran : Iran is ready to host the next meeting of the quartet group on Syria set to begin in near future, the country's foreign minister Ali-Akbar Salehi has said.

Salehi, during a joint press conference with visiting Guinea- Bissau's foreign minister, here Sunday said that he had contacted his counterparts in the group -- foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey -- to speed up diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the Syrian crisis, Xinhua reported.

"A foreign ministerial meeting was decided to be held in near future and we voiced our preparedness to host the meeting," Salehi said.

India helping Nitaqat-hit expats

Saudi Arabia and India have agreed to set up a joint panel “to evolve mechanism” for addressing problems faced by Indian workers hit by the Nitaqat scheme in Saudi Arabia.

The first meeting of the joint panel, which will also discuss ways and means to maximize the availability of alternative jobs for affected workers, will be held in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference after holding talks with Minister of Labor Adel Fakeih in Jeddah yesterday, Indian Minister of Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi, said: “The Indian side has conveyed its concerns to the Saudi officials, who have assured all possible support.”

Bomb attack on Peshawar election office leaves 3 dead

PESHAWAR: Three people were killed and 19 other injured in a bomb blast at an election office in Maqsoodabad area, Peshawar on Sunday.

The device exploded outside the election office of independent candidate Nasir Khan, in Maqsoodabad, Landai Sarak in the jurisdiction of Khazana police station. Khan is contesting elections from the constituency of NA-46 and has previously served as a senator.

Pakistan: Blast in Balochistan

Five supporters of a political leader were injured when their motorcade was targeted with a roadside bomb in the restive Balochistan province of southwest Pakistan on Friday.

The incident in Bolan district targeted the motorcade of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Hashim Shahwani, who is a candidate for upcoming polls to the Balochistan assembly.

Shahwani escaped unhurt, security officials told the media. The injured persons were taken to a nearby hospital.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Three Pakistani provinces - Balochistan,Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh  have witnessed a spike in violence ahead of the landmark May 11 polls that will mark the first democratic transition in the country's history.

Taliban plans to kidnap Pervez Musharraf: Pakistani spy agencies

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani intelligence agencies have warned that the Taliban have made plans to kidnap former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who is currently being held at his private residence here after being arrested in several criminal cases.

The intelligence agencies have issued an advisory that the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan might attempt to abduct Musharraf while he is being taken from his farmhouse to court, Geo News channel reported today.

The channel quoted its sources as saying that the Taliban was working with other jihadi groups to kidnap Musharraf.

Twelve dead in Philippines political ambush ahead of vote

ILIGAN, Philippines:Twelve people were killed in an ambush on a Philippines mayor, officials said on Friday, in the deadliest of a string of violent incidents that have marred the campaign for May elections.

Gunmen opened fire on a truck carrying Mayor Abdulmalik Manamparan and his supporters on southern Mindanao island late Thursday, local military commander Colonel Ricardo Jalad said, adding that several victims were relatives of the mayor.

Ramdev praises Narendra Modi, shares stage with him in Haridwar

Haridwar: Religious leaders in Haridwar on Friday welcomed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is in town to inaugurate yoga guru Ramdev's new school 'Acharya Kulam'. Ramdev, giving a fillip to Modi's Prime Ministerial ambitions, was all praise for him and lauded him for being a great administrator. Ramdev also reiterated that crores of Indians are pinning their hopes on him.

Seventeen sentenced to life imprisonment in Bihar

NAWADA: Seventeen people were on Friday sentenced to life imprisonment for killing two persons who did not vote for an influential candidate in the panchayat elections here seven years ago.

While awarding the sentence, Additional District and Sessions court judge Baidyanath also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on each of them or six months additional imprisonment.

Bilawal returns to Karachi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party  chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari returned to Karachi from Dubai and was scheduled to address party rallies through video conferencing due to security  threats,  top party sources told Dawn.com on Friday.

“Bilawal travels frequently between Dubai and Karachi and we do not share his travel plans”, chief of staff to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Hisham Sheikh told Dawn.com.Hisham added that “Federal Intelligence Agency (FIA) had informed us in writing about serious security threats posed to the life of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and we have taken measures accordingly.

Afghan bus crash kills 30, Taliban blamed

KABUL: An official says a bus in southern Afghanistan has collided with the burning wreckage of a truck that was attacked by Taliban insurgents, killing 30 bus passengers.

Omar Zawak, the governor’s spokesman in Helmand province, said the truck was set on fire by Taliban attackers and left burning in the middle of a road, and the bus could not stop in time to avoid smashing into it.

The fiery crash happened about 55 kilometers outside the capital of Helmand province.

Zawak said Friday’s crash also left 11 passengers injured. He said the casualties included men, women and children.

Death toll in B'desh building collapse reaches 290

The death toll in the collapse of an eight-storey commercial building in the Bangladeshi capital today rose to 290, as rescuers looked for last survivors under tonnes of debris at suburban Savar.

"We have retrieved so far 290 bodies and rescued alive some 2100 people... We now look for the last survivors under the debris (of Rana Plaza)," a fire service official told PTI.

He said at least two dozen people were still expected to be alive under the concrete garbage and rescuers now mobilised their efforts to salvage them discarding the dead ones as time was running out for their survival.

ATC orders Musharraf’s physical remand in Benazir murder case

ISLAMABAD: Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf was on Friday remanded into custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the Benazir Bhutto murder case.

The remand which is to last until April 30 was ordered by the Rawalpindi anti-terrorist court which has been hearing the case pertaining to the assassination of the former premier.

Musharraf is to remain at his farmhouse residence at Chak Shahzad during the period of his physical remand.

At least 38 Killed in Fire at Russian Hospital

MOSCOW:A fire in a psychiatric hospital outside Moscow killed at least 36 people, most of whom were patients confined in the building because of their mental ailments, Russian news agencies reported early Friday.

The building that went up in flames housed Psychiatric Hospital No. 14 in the town of Ramensky near Moscow. Interfax, a news agency, reported it was a “special regime” hospital, meaning that patients were not free to leave.

India protests detention of UP minister at Boston airport

WASHINGTON: India has formally protested to the US the brief detention of Uttar Pradesh urban development minister Mohammad Azam Khan at Boston airport as he arrived to take part in an event at Harvard University.

Khan, who is accompanying UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav for the presentation of a Harvard study on the Kumbh Mela pilgrimage, was detained for about 10 minutes for "further questioning" at Boston Logan International Airport Wednesday, according to Indian officials.

Day of mourning in Sindh today

KARACHI: True to their declared stance of keeping liberal democratic parties out of the election process, militants continued to mount pressure on MQM and PPP and attacked the election office of the former in Karachi and the office of a candidate of the latter in Nushki in Balochistan on Thursday.

The acts of terror claimed at least eight lives in Sindh and Balochistan, casting a pall of gloom over election activities across the country.

In Karachi, the MQM announced a day of mourning across Sindh on Friday. Traders said they would to keep their businesses shut and schools announced a day of closure and rescheduled some exams.

Dhoni does it again as Chennai beat Hyderabad by 5 wickets

CHENNAI: It was that man MS Dhoni again for Chennai Super Kings. The CSK skipper played yet another blinder of an innings (67, 37 balls, 7x4, 4x6) to take his team home against Sunrisers Hyderabad here on Thursday night.

In what another tight finish, CSK needed 28 from the last two overs and 15 from the final one bowled by Ashish Reddy. Dhoni was equal to the task and took CSK past the post with two balls remaining as Reddy's lack of nerve proved costly for Sunrisers.

Narendra Modi never said 'go and kill people', says SIT

Ahmedabad: The lawyer of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has given a clean chit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2002 post-Godhra riots case after investigating complaint filed by Zakia Jafri, on Thursday said that "Modi has never said that go and kill people". Opposing the protest petition filed by Jafri against SIT's closure report, its lawyer RS Jamuar said, "(social activist) Teesta Setalvad and others have falsified the complaint targeting Chief Minister who had never said that go and kill people."

Coimbatore: Fire in Axis Bank building, with no emergency exit 4 women die trapped

Four women employees of Axis Bank were killed in a fire accident at the bank's building in Coimbatore. The fire started on the third floor of the building at 10:15 am. Twelve fire engines were rushed to the spot and it took them two hours to douse the fire.

Two killed by junkyard explosion near Taj Mahal

TWO people were killed and a woman was injured in an explosion at a junkyard near the Taj Mahal today.

Police told India Today that the blast occurred in the crowded Tajganj area, about 5 km from the Taj Mahal.

Agra SSP Subhash Chandra Dubey said the incident took place while a scrap dealer was separating explosive material from metal from the scrap procured from the army.

In Bihar, a mother and daughter gang-raped 'in revenge

A woman and her minor daughter from Champaran district of Bihar have allegedly been gang-raped by six men who suspected that the woman's son had eloped with a girl from their family.

All the accused have been arrested. Sources in the police say they "wanted to take revenge" because the woman did not tell them the location of her missing son.