India

New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) The CBI has booked self-styled preacher Daati Maharaj, who runs a temple in South Delhi, for allegedly raping and having unnatural sex with an inmate of his ashram, officials said Friday.

The agency had taken over investigation in the case on the instructions of the Delhi High Court, they said.

On a complaint by a woman disciple, a case of rape and unnatural sex was filed against Daati Maharaj, his three brothers and a woman at Fatehpur Beri Police Station in South Delhi.

New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday welcomed the "intervention" by the Supreme Court in the turmoil at the CBI and hoped the institutional integrity of the investigating agency will be upheld.

His reaction came after the Supreme Court asked the Central Vigilance Commission to complete within two weeks its inquiry into allegations against CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma and barred interim director M Nageswara Rao from taking any major policy decision.

"Welcome intervention by the hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the CBI matter.

Hazaribagh, Oct 25 (PTI) Two young unemployed engineers were found hanging at different places in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district, the police said Thursday.

The body of mining engineer Pramod Kumar (24) was found hanging from a branch of tree in Padma area of the district on Wednesday, they said.

According to the complaint filed by Kumars father, Binod Ram, Kumar was missing from his residence at Deochanda village for the last five days.

The police said that Kumar did a course in mining engineering at Dhanbad about two years ago.

Jabalpur (MP), Oct 25 (PTI) A 32-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by a court here Thursday for repeatedly raping his six-year-old daughter.

Special Judge for the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) cases, R P Soni, convicted the man for rape under the IPC and POCSO.

The accused (name not disclosed) hailed from Katni district, said Additional District Public Prosecutor Smritilata Barkade.

Thiruvananthapuram/Kottayam, Oct 25 (PTI) Cracking the whip, Police have arrested 1400 people, who took part in demonstrations across Kerala against entry of women in the 10-50 age group into the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala.

State police chief Loknath Behera Thursday said the arrests were made in the last two days and 440 cases registered in connection with violent incidents following the supreme court verdict allowing women of menstrual age to offer prayers at the hill temple.

Srinagar, Oct 25 (PTI) Six militants were Thursday killed in two gun battles with security forces in Baramulla and Anantnag districts of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

"Four militants were killed in Arwani operation in Anantnag district while two ultras were eliminated in an encounter at Kreeri in Baramulla," a senior police official said.

New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) An umbrella body of 260 farmers organisations will hold a 'kisan march' to Delhi next month to protest against the central government's "apathetic attitude" in solving problems of their community, leaders of the farmers committee said Thursday.

Leaders of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) claimed that the planned 'kisan march' to Delhi, beginning November 28, would be larger than the farmers' march organised at Boat Club under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Tikait, founder of the Bharatiya Kisan Union in 1988.

New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday led a protest march to demand the reinstatement of CBI Director Alok Verma, who has been divested of his powers and sent on leave, and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress has termed the move against Verma "illegal and unconstitutional".

Top Congress leaders took part in the march that culminated in a demonstration outside the CBI headquarters. Leaders of other parties also joined the protest as a mark of solidarity.

Muzaffarpur, Oct 26 (PTI) An Army jawan was arrested in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district for taking part in robberies, a senior police officer said Friday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Manoj Kumar said a police team arrested Army jawan Pushpraj Kumar from Madhopur Susta village on Thursday while he was planning to execute another dacoity.

Shimla, Oct 26 (PTI) A 30-year-old Russian woman has alleged she was raped by two unknown persons in Manali, police said Friday.

The incident occurred when the woman was passing through an isolated area after having dinner Thursday night, Kullu Superintendent of Police Shalini Agnihotri said.

On her complaint, a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Manali police station, Agnihotri said.