Indian Sub-continent

Karachi, Oct 10 (PTI) Pakistan's head coach Misbah-ul-Haq says the humiliating 0-3 hammering in a T20 series against a second-string Sri Lanka has opened his eyes to the fact that there is something seriously wrong with the country's cricket system.

Misbah, who has faced criticism since becoming the first man in Pakistan cricket to hold two top posts of head coach as well as chief selector, also rued the lack of talent at domestic level.

Mandsaur, Oct 9 (PTI) A local office-bearer of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) was shot dead by unidentified persons in Mandsaur town of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, the police said.

It is suspected that it was the fall-out of a business dispute.

Three motorbike-borne men shot Yuvraj Singh Chauhan (37) near a tea shop in Geeta Bhawan area and fled, district superintendent of police (SP) Hitesh Choudhary said.

Chauhan, who was shot in the chest, died on the spot, the SP added.

Dhanbad (Jharkhand), Oct 9 (PTI) A court here on Wednesday sentenced BJP MLA Dhulu Mahto and four other persons to 18 months imprisonment for assaulting police personnel and forcibly taking away Rajesh Gupta from their custody six years ago.

Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate Shikha Agrawal found them guilty under Indian Penal Code sections 353 (assault to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty) and 325 (punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt).

They fled with Rajesh Gupta, who faced arrest warrants then.

Sukma, Oct 9 (PTI) Four Naxals, including two women, surrendered in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, police said.

The four ultras, of whom three were carrying cash rewards on their heads, turned themselves in before the police here citing disappointment with the Maoist ideology and violence committed by them, an official said.

Of the surrendered, the woman cadre, Madvi Gangi, who was active as the head of Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisaan Majdoor Sangthan (DAKMS), a frontal wing of Maoists, in Kerlapal area, was the most dreaded one, he said.

Patna, Oct 9 (PTI) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday asserted that BJP had "nothing to do" with a sedition case lodged in Muzaffarpur district against nearly 50 renowned actors, filmmakers and intellectuals who had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in the rising incidence of mob lynching.

In a statement issued here, Modi noted with dismay that the FIR was lodged upon the complaint of a "serial litigant" from the north Bihar town, who has filed countless petitions against well-known personalities "including myself".

Ghaziabad, Oct 9 (PTI) The third accused of raping a minor girl last month was arrested here on Wednesday, police said.

The 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by three men -- Awdesh, Kapil and Shobit -- on September 13 when she was alone at her home, Superintendent of Police (rural) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun said.

The accused took turns to rape the girl and made a video of the crime, he said.

Kendrapara (Odisha), Oct 9 (PTI) A minor girl in Kendrapara district was allegedly raped by two men while she had gone outside to attend to nature's call, police said on Wednesday.

The accused have been arrested, they said.

"The duo have confessed to the crime. They gangraped her while the 14-year-old girl had gone to a field to answer to nature's call.

Jaipur, Oct 10 (PTI) A delegation of Sufi leaders and spiritual heads of various shrines across the country will visit Jammu and Kashmir between October 12 and 14 to meet the locals and assess the ground situation there.

The spiritual head of Ajmer dargah, Zainul Abedin Ali Khan, has taken the initiative to send the delegation comprising 18 members that will be led by his son Nasiruddin Chisty.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to visit Saudi Arabia and Iran, the foreign office in Islamabad said on Thursday, weeks after Islamabad said Washington had asked it to mediate with Tehran.

“The possibility of a visit of the prime minister to Saudi Arabia and Iran is on the cards and I will update you as things unfold,” foreign office spokesman, Mohammad Fasisal, told a news briefing.

Basti (UP), Oct 9 (PTI) A 26-year-old BJP worker and former student union leader was allegedly shot dead by two men here, sparking protests by his supporters who set ablaze several government buses and police vehicles.

Kabir Tiwari, a former student union president of APN college, was attacked around 10 am at Ranjeet crossing on Malviya road here, they said.

He was taken to the district hospital from where he was referred to Lucknow. Tiwari died on the way, they said.