India

Chandauli,(UP) Jan 20 (PTI) After courting controversy over her remarks against BSP supremo Mayawati, BJP MLA Sadhana Singh Sunday issued an apology, clarifying that she did not mean to hurt anyone.

Singh, a legislator from Uttar Pradesh's Mughalsarai had Saturday called the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief a "blot on womankind" and "worse than a transgender".

Guwahati, Jan 21 (PTI) An NSCN(R) cadre was arrested and a huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered during separate raids in Assam's Tinsukia district, police said Monday.

Acting on a tip-off, Army troops launched an operation near Tirap Colliery in Ledo town and nabbed the NSCN(R) militant on Monday.

The militant has been identified as Singmai Haseng and a 7.65 mm pistol, a magazine and three rounds of ammunition have been recovered from him.

He was later handed over to the police, a police officer said.

Mumbai, Jan 21 (PTI) The launch of a political party exclusively for women was announced in Mumbai Monday with the motto of empowerment of the fair sex.

Announcing the formation of the National Women's Party (NWP), its founder-president Dr Swetha Shetty said apart from ensuring empowerment of women, the issues like getting 50 per cent reservation for them in Parliament and state assemblies, and betterment of soldiers and farmers, are their top priorities.

Srinagar, Jan 21 (PTI) Three unidentified Kashmiris were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district on Monday, the Army said.

A cordon-and-search operation was launched in Hapatnaar area following information about the presence of separatists in the area, an official said.

The search operation turned into a gun battle after the separatists opened fire on the security forces. Three separatists were killed in the operation, the official said, adding that the identity and affiliation of them were being ascertained.

New Delhi, Jan 21 (PTI) In a major reshuffle, interim CBI Director Nageswara Rao has transferred around 20 officers, including the investigation officer of the 2G scam case, Vivek Priyadarshi.

Priyadarshi, posted in the Anti Corruption Branch in Delhi, has been transferred to Chandigarh.

The transfer order, however, states that all the officers, who have been specially directed to supervise, investigate or enquire into any case or matter by any constitutional court, shall continue to do.

Gurgaon, Jan 21 (PTI) The Gurgaon police Monday arrested a woman on charges of getting murdered her husband through contract killers for a sum of Rs 16 lakh.

Gurgaon police spokesperson Subhash Bokan said the accused woman, Sweety, got her husband killed as she suspected him to be having an extra-marital affair and feared that he would transfer his entire property, including a shop and a house in Sheetla Colony here to anther woman.

Srinagar, Jan 22 (PTI) Two separatists were killed on Tuesday in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Heff area of Shopian district following information about presence of militants in the area, an Army official said.

He said the search operation turned into a gunbattle after militants opened fire on the security forces.

Varanasi, Jan 22 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described NRIs as India's brand ambassadors and said they were the symbols of the country's capabilities.

The prime minister was inaugurating the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas convention in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi.

"I consider NRIs India's brand ambassadors. They are the symbols of our capacities and capabilities," he told the gathering.

"People of Indian origin are in leadership roles in countries such as Mauritius, Portugal and Ireland," he said.

KANPUR: Long-lasting controversy over construction of the hockey turf between the Nagar Nigam and the Sports Directorate at Green Parks seems to end now.

The Divisional Commissioner's recent inspection of Green Park has brought new expectation. Though the Kanpur Municipal Corporation sanctioned an amount of Rs 2 crores for the astroturf. The construction work got put off on account of variation in the ground size.

KANPUR: Police caught as many as eight pairs red-handed in a hotel near Ghanta Ghar here on Monday. All were taken to the police station. The girls were let go while the action was being carried on others after filing a report.

According to the news reports, there was a complaint about this hotel on the state government portal. The police were continuously keeping watchfulness on this hotel. A lady police officer gathered detailed information about the movement in the hotel.