Indian Sub-continent

Mumbai, Jul 29 (PTI) The Bombay High Court on Monday commuted the death penalty of two convicts in the 2007 Pune BPO gang-rape and murder case to life imprisonment on the ground that there had been an inordinate delay in executing them.

The convicts, Purushottam Borate and Pradeep Kokade, were to be executed on June 24, but the high court had said on June 21 that the execution should not take place as scheduled until further orders.

New Delhi, Jul 29 (PTI) Under fire from various quarters, Samajwadi Party member Azam Khan on Monday apologised in Lok Sabha for his sexist remarks against BJP member Rama Devi.

Though Khan had to repeat his apology twice in the House, a visibly peeved Devi said the member has the habit of uttering derogatory words against women.

As soon as the House met for the day, Speaker Om Birla asked Khan, who has come under criticism from members across party lines for his sexist remarks against Devi last Thursday, to speak and he tendered his apology.

Thane, Jul 29 (PTI) A 36-year-old man from Thane in Maharashtra has been sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually harassing a school student three years ago.

In a recent order, special POCSO judge Dilip Murumkar also fined Sunil Gavhane, a resident of Kamathghar in Bhinwadi, a sum of Rs 2,000, Additional Public Prosecutor Ujjwala Moholkar said on Monday.

New Delhi, July 29 (PTI) Over 5000 doctors, medical students and healthcare professionals from across the country staged a protest against the the National Commission (NMC) Bill 2019 following a call given by IMA, with a march being held from AIIMS to Nirman Bhawan here.

Kochi, Jul 29 (PTI) A new freshwater fish species has been discovered in Kerala, a state blessed with freshwater resources, scientists said here.

This fish belonging to the subterranean snakehead species was found in the well of a house in Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district last year, they said Sunday.

Srinagar, Jul 29 (PTI) A fresh order directing the five zonal superintendents of police to provide the list of mosques in the city and its management committees has added to the speculation about some major decision in the offing regarding Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

Medininagar (Jharkhand), Jul 29 (PTI) The Jharkhand unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Monday dismissed its lone MLA Kushwaha Shivpujan Mehta on alleged anti-party activities, a party leader said.

Mehta has also been accused of neglecting his constituency, Hussainabad, in Palamu district, he said.

The legislator, however, dismissed the allegations and said he was yet to (receive) any intimation in this regard.

Kanpur: Second storey of a building in Quli Bazar of Anwarganj area collapsed to the ground which led to the death of an old woman living on the third floor. She came down with the debris. The Fire Brigade personnel took half an hour in bringing her out of the debris. She was declared dead by the doctors at Ursula hospital.

Ballia (UP), Jul 29 (PTI) A Dalit shopkeeper was allegedly beaten to death in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district by a customer and his accomplices after an argument over a payment, police said on Monday.

The incident occurred at Naini village under Sahatwar police station area on Sunday, the police said.

Bengaluru, Jul 29 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday proved his majority in the Assembly winning the confidence motion by a voice vote.

With the numbers game favouring the BJP government, the Congress and JDS did not press for division on the one-line motion moved by Yediyurappa that the House expresses confidence in his three-day old Ministry.

As the Opposition did not press for division, the Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar declared that the motion had been passed by a voice vote.