Indian Sub-continent

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) The Supreme Court Monday said it will hear in July a plea of Zakia Jafri, challenging the SIT's clean chit to the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in connection with the 2002 Godhra riots.

A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar listed the matter for hearing in the month of July.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) The Congress on Monday said the Rafale deal is "unravelling" faster than the government thought, with issues such as "parallel negotiations" by the PMO and changes in the standard defence procurement procedure coming to the fore.

Muzaffarnagar, Feb 11 (PTI) A 26-year-old woman was allegedly abducted and raped by two men in Kotwali Police Station area here, police said Monday.

SHO Anil Kumar said the accused abducted her from a road on Friday and raped her

A case was lodged against the two men who were on the run, Kumar said.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 35-year-old sanitation worker at a public toilet in west Delhi's Naraina area, police said Monday.

The incident took place on February 6 and the Naraina police station were informed regarding the incident on Monday, they added.

The victim was taken for a medical examination. A case was registered and the accused has been arrested, Deputy Commissioner of Police (west) Monika Bhardwaj said.

The minor's condition is now stable, she said.

Bengaluru, Feb 11 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Monday announced a comprehensive SIT probe into an audio clip he released showing BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa in a purported conversation to lure a JD (S) MLA in his alleged attempt to topple the Congress-JDS government.

As the audio row rocked the assembly, Kumaraswamy accepted an "advice" by an emotional Speaker Ramesh Kumar to constitute a Special Investigation Team to probe the episode.

Bengaluru, Feb 11 (PTI) Cracking the whip, the Congress Monday sought disqualification of four rebel MLAs under the Anti-Defection law after they repeatedly remained defiant, skipping the assembly session and legislature party meetings.

The Congress petitioned the Assembly speaker Ramesh Kumar, seeking action against lawmakers Ramesh Jarkiholi, Umesh Jadhav, Mahesh Kumathali and B Nagendra weeks after giving them warnings to mend their ways and fall in line.

Sambalpur (Odisha), Feb 11 (PTI) A police official and a 22-year-old man were arrested on Monday for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in Odisha's Bargarh district, police said.

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in Sohela Banmali Kuanr and a youth -- Kaibalya alias Rinku Nag (22) -- were arrested on charge of raping the minor girl three days ago, Bargarh Superintendent of Police, Mukesh Kumar Bhamo said.

While the ASI was placed under suspension, both the accused have been booked under relevant sections of POCSO Act, the SP said.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) The AAP has invited Congress President Rahul Gandhi to attend its mega "Tanashahi Hatao, Loktantra Bachao" rally in the national capital on Wednesday to corner the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, a senior party leader said.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh told PTI that the Congress president is one of the invitees of the 'Tanashahi Hatao Loktantra Bachao' rally to be held on February 13 here.

Sikar (Rajasthan), Feb 11 (PTI) A POCSO court here on Monday awarded life imprisonment to a man for raping a four-year-old girl in the district about two weeks ago.

Twenty-eight-year-old Kalia alias Karan had abducted and raped the girl on January 30 night at a cremation ground near their huts in the Khatushyamji police station area.

Raipur, Feb 12 (PTI) The newly-formed Congress government in Chhattisgarh has rechristened five schemes named after late Jan Sangh leader Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya by the previous BJP-led dispensation.

These schemes of the urban administration and development department have now been named after former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and architect of the Indian Constitution Dr B R Ambedkar.

The opposition BJP, however, expressed unhappiness, saying the step indicated "political vindictiveness".