Indian Sub-continent

New Delhi, January 16; GANASHAKTI: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has has condemned PM Modi’s statement about Kerala government on Sabarimala temple.

The Prime Minister has stated in a public meeting at Kollam in Kerala that the stand of the LDF Government on the Sabarimala issue is “shameful”. This statement is atrocious and highly condemnable. He is admonishing an elected Government for implementing the judgement of the Supreme Court.

New Delhi, Jan 16; PTI: Alleging communalism of education, threat to campus democracy and privatisation of education, Left students' unions will march to Parliament on February 18 against the government, a statement from the unions said Wednesday.

The unions, including SFI, AISF, AIDSO, PSU and AISM, have made a slew of demands from the government for the education sector.

Mumbai, Jan 16 :  The BEST workers' union Wednesday agreed to withdraw its ongoing strike after accepting the '10-step' pay hike to be granted to them by way of an interim measure by the civic transport undertaking's management.

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) workers, its management and other parties concerned will now go for mediation to resolve their dispute.

Raipur, Jan 16 (PTI) A group of Naxals allegedly torched a bus in Kasoli village in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, after asking passengers to alight, police said.

Three Naxals were arrested in connection with the incident, police said.

Talking to PTI, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallav said the incident took place in Geedam tehsil in the district in the morning.

Mumbai, Jan 16 (PTI) A 14-year-old girl, who allegedly tried to kill herself after being admonished for watching videos on mobile phone, died at a hospital here after battling for life for three days, the police said Wednesday.

The family resides in Bhoiwada, central Mumbai. The police did not disclose the girl's name as she was minor.

Last Thursday the girl's mother chided her for watching videos on mobile phone all the time, a police official said.

Jammu, Jan 16 (PTI) Batting for early assembly elections, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has said all political parties, except Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party, want early polls.

The governor, however, hastened to add that it is the Election Commission of India, which has the mandate to hold the polls and decide the schedule.

Panaji, Jan 16 (PTI) Harassment by the police was one of the reasons fewer tourists visit Goa for ringing in the New Year, state Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said Wednesday.

The police should go after drug racketeers and not target "innocent tourists", he said.

"There are several reasons why tourism has gone down.

One of them is the harassment meted out to innocent tourists by the police department in Goa," Ajgaonkar told reporters.

He was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting of MLAs to discuss the Draft Tourism Policy 2018.

Gonda (UP), Jan 16 (PTI) A 35-year-old rape victim allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself at her home in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda district, a police official said Wednesday.

Two policemen have been suspended in connection with the incident which took place on Monday, said Gonda SP R P Singh.

The woman's husband has blamed police for inaction in the rape case.

"Police didn't conduct a thorough investigation, she did not get justice," the husband said.

New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) A 30-year-old woman was allegedly raped by her friend and two of his accomplices in a car near a mall in east Delhi's Shahdara following which the main accused has been arrested, police said Wednesday.

The incident took place on Monday night. A passerby saw the woman crying and called police.

During investigation, it was revealed that the woman and one of the accused came in contact through a common friend couple of months ago. They both were married, police said.

Bhind (MP), Jan 16 (PTI) A 16-year old girl was allegedly gang-raped in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh, the police said Wednesday.

While the alleged incident took place on January 10, a complaint was registered Tuesday, said a police official from Mou police station.

The girl told the police that her marriage had been fixed with Lilu Kushwaha (20), resident of neighbouring Gadroli village, about a year ago, and since then they were in touch with each other on phone.