Indian Sub-continent

Muzaffarnagar (UP), May 29 (PTI) A local court here has acquitted 12 people due to lack of evidence in connection with the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case.

Additional District Sessions Judge Sanjive Kumar Tiwari acquitted them under sections 395 (dacoity) and 436 (arson) of the IPC on Tuesday in the riots case.

According to prosecution, an SIT had filed charge sheet against 13 people under sections 495 and 436 of the IPC. One person died during the pendency of the case.

Bhubaneswar, May 29 (PTI) Naveen Patnaik, who led his Biju Janata Dal to a landslide victory in the Assembly elections, took oath as the chief minister of Odisha for a record fifth consecutive term on Wednesday.

Patnaik was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Ganeshi Lal at the Idco Exhibition Ground here.

Twenty newly elected BJD MLAs also took oath as ministers, including 11 of Cabinet rank, at the swearing-in ceremony attended by a host of dignitaries.

Itanagar, May 29 (PTI) Senior BJP leader Pema Khandu took oath as the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday.

Khandu was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Brig (Retd) B D Mishra at the Dorjee Khandu Convention Centre here.

Eleven Cabinet Ministers, including Chowna Mein, were also administered the oath.

Chief Ministers of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya attended the function.

Kochi, May 29 (PTI) The Kerala High Court has allowed a petition seeking to quash a rape case on the ground that the parties have compromised and that the petitioner has married the victim.

The man, the petitioner, was the accused in a case filed in the Court of the Judicial First Class Magistrate-1, Pathanamthitta.

Hyderabad, May 29 (PTI): A case of cheating has been registered against evangelist and Praja Shanti Party founder KA Pauland his associates for allegedly duping a 54-year old woman here of Rs 2 lakh by promising to get her a US visa, police said.

The woman, a resident of Ramachandrapuram near here stated she came in contact with Paul on April 22 with regard to securing a visa to the US and as per his advise met him and his associates at his office in Ameerpet here on May 7, police added.

New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) The Supreme Court Wednesday dismissed a plea of Congress MP Karti Chidambaram seeking return of Rs 10 crore which he had deposited with the court's registry for travelling abroad.

Karti Chidambaram is facing criminal cases being probed by CBI and ED.

A vacation bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Aniruddha Bose rejected Karti's plea and said, "Pay attention to your constituency."

Kanpur: As many as five hospitals viz., Murari Lal Chest Hospital, Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital, Maternity Hospital, Children Hospital and Contagious diseases Hospital attached with Ganesh Shanked Vidyarthi Medical College are facing utmost paucity of basic things like dressing, glucose and injection at present. This was due to the fact of delay in budget for purchase. 

Though Dr Arti Lalchandani, principal, GSVM College has categorically said that the stock would be made available after the budget is recieved. 

ISLAMABAD, May 28 (APP): Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Tuesday announced 50 percent discount on all trains on Eid day to facilitate the passengers across the country.

“This a special gift for passengers on Eid day and I also thank the travelers who will use Pakistan Railways for travelling,” the minister said in a statement issued here.

Barabanki (UP), May 28: Six people died and at least 20 others were taken ill after consuming spurious liquor in the district, prompting the Yogi Adityanath government to order a high-level probe to look into all angles including possibility of a political conspiracy, officials said Tuesday.

Four members of a family are said to be among those who died in the incident that took place on Monday night. Heads rolled after the incident with authorities suspending 10 excise and two police officials.

Beijing, May 28 (AP/PTI) China is running five-day Confucian culture immersion courses for religious leaders in the sage's hometown as part of a campaign to extend government control over faith communities through a process of sinicisation.

The ruling Communist Party's United Work Front Department said in a news release issued Monday that the activity was designed to ensure the primacy of traditional Chinese values above all.