India

Ahmedabad, Jan 7 (PTI) The Gujarat BJP Monday welcomed the Centre's decision to give 10 per cent reservation to "economically weaker" sections from the general category even as an ordinance on the same issue brought by the state government in 2016 during the Patel quota stir was quashed by the high court.

The state's BJP government had issued an ordinance for 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections among upper castes in May 2016, but the Gujarat High Court had quashed it in just three months, calling it "unconstitutional".

New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) A 25-year-old man was arrested from Rajasthan for allegedly kidnapping a minor and forcefully marrying her, police said Monday.

The accused was identified as Manjeet Singh, a resident of Sonipat in Haryana, they said, adding that he was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000.

Guwahati, Jan 8 (PTI) An 11-hour North East bandh, called by a number of students' organisation and political parties on Tuesday, to protest against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill began amid tight security at 5am.

In Assam, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) has called for a state-wide bandh after a gap of 10 years and it is being supported by the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which withdrew support to the BJP-led government in Assam on Monday, the opposition Congress, the AIUDF, and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS).

New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) Central Trade Unions Tuesday began a two-day nationwide strike to protest against the government's alleged anti-worker policies and unilateral labour reforms.

"The strike is quite visible in Assam, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Manipur Bihar, Rajasthan, Goa, Punjab, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Haryana -- particularly in the targeted industrial areas and different mines," Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), told PTI.

Muzaffarnagar (UP), Jan 8 (PTI) Three people were detained after a group of Hindu activists allegedly tried to force shut a meat shop in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district, police said Tuesday.

The incident occurred in Khampur village of Chapar area on Monday evening. Police rushed to the spot and dispersed the two sides, an officer said.

Three people were taken into custody and later released, the officer added.

Ahmedabad, Jan 8 (PTI) Senior Gujarat BJP leader and former MLA Jayanti Bhanushali was shot dead by unidentified persons while he was travelling in a train in the wee hours of Tuesday, police said.

The incident took place around 2 am in the Bhuj-Dadar Express trainwhen Bhanushali, 53, was returning to Ahmedabad from Bhuj town of Kutch district in Gujarat.

New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday reinstated Alok Kumar Verma as CBI Director and set aside the Centre's decision divesting him of his powers and sending him on leave.

The top court, however, restrained Verma from taking any major policy decision till the Central Vigilance Commission inquiry is over.

The apex court also said that any further decision against Verma would be taken by the high-powered committee which selects and appoints CBI Director.

The Supreme Court today dismissed a Public Interest Litigation petition praying that the name of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) be changed.

“You want us to do that? Dismissed”, asked CJI Ranjan Gogoi before dismissing the plea.

The matter was heard by a Bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul.

KANPUR: Changing its earlier decision on the tanneries’ operation on the roster basis, the state pollution control board has taken a strict action. The tanneries will now be opened after the Kumbh. Announcing the fresh decision, T U Khan, Board’s chief officer, said that owners of as many as 91 tanneries were made aware of the closure resolution with the state pollution control board.

Karimnagar (Tel), Jan 6 (PTI) A teenage girl from Bompally village in Telangana's Peddapalli district has filed a rape case against her 24-year-old lover and his two friends, police said Sunday.

Police have identified the main accused as Kotte Ranjith.

A police officer said Ranjith allegedly maintained physical relations with the girl under the pretext of marrying her.