India

New Delhi, May 14 (PTI) Thirteen Pakistani nationals, including four fishermen, were repatriated to Pakistan on Tuesday through the Attari-Wagah border, the country's High Commission here said.

They were handed over to Pakistani authorities in the presence of officials of the Pakistan High Commission, it said.

Thirteen Pakistani nationals -- nine civil prisoners and four fishermen, were repatriated on May 14 through the Attari-Wagah border, the mission said in a statement.

Bengaluru,May 14 (PTI) An election commission squad, along with income tax and enforcement directorate sleuths, Tuesday carried out searches in two hotels at Hubballi where State minister D K Shivakumar and some Congress and JD(S) leaders were staying.

The sleuths seized from the rooms in the hotels gold utensils and other materials allegedly meant for bribing voters.

The raids were carried out in connection with the bypoll in Kundgol seat which fell vacant following the death of sitting MLA C S Shivalli a few months ago.

Panaji, May 14 (PTI) The Election Commission of India Tuesday turned down a request by the Goa government for relaxation in model code of conduct, in force since March 10 for Lok Sabha polls, in the South district for pre-monsoon works.

State Chief Electoral Officer Kunal informed Goa Chief Secretary Parimal Rai that the model code of conduct would be relaxed only after the entire election process was over.

While polls to the state's two Lok Sabha seats were over on April 23, bypoll to the Panaji Assembly seat, in North Goa district, is slated for May 19.

Muzaffarnagar (UP), May 15 (PTI) A right to information activist has been shot at by four unidentified men in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district, police said on Wednesday.

Krishanpal had gone to the fields at Dhindhwali village on Tuesday evening when the four miscreants opened fire at him. The 35-year-old was rushed to a hospital in a serious condition, Superintendent of Police (City) Satpal Antil said.

Muzaffarnagar, May 14; PTI/GANASHAKTI: The family of one of the youths whose death sparked the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots demanded on Tuesday that the police arrest all the accused and implement a court order to attach the properties.

Residents of the Kawal village in Jansath area met the Muzaffarnagar senior superintendent of police and demanded the arrest of all the six accused in connection with the death of Shahnawaz.

Led by his father, the residents demanded that the property of the accused be attached as directed by a court.

New Delhi, May 13; GANASHAKTI: India’s retail inflation inched up in April to 2.92% from 2.86% a month ago, even though it remained well within the target of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Modest inflation and growing concern over growth may force the RBI to go for another round of rate cut in June.

Vegetable price inflation which turned positive last month grew 2.87% in April, while overall food and beverages inflation stood at 1.38% during the month.

NEW DELHI; Reuters/GANASHAKTI - Only one Indian buyer of Iranian oil has taken up Saudi Arabia’s offer of additional oil to make up for the loss of supplies from Tehran due to U.S. sanctions, taking an extra 2 million barrels from the Kingdom for June shipment, industry sources said.

Last month, Saudi Arabia approached Indian buyers offering them additional supplies to compensate for loss of Iranian oil after the United States threatened to sanction entities buying oil from Tehran, the sources said.

New Delhi, May 14 (PTI) The central government on Tuesday extended for five more years the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a terror group that was behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The ban has been extended under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, a notification issued by the Union Home ministry stated.

India had banned the LTTE after the assassination of Gandhi in 1991. The ban on the group was last extended for five years in 2014.

New Delhi, May 14 (PTI) The Congress on Tuesday accused the Modi government of compromising and overruling national security by reducing the purchase of the Rafale fighter aircraft to save money.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hit out at the BJP after Union minister Nitin Gadkari reportedly admitted that the Rafale deal was curtailed due to do financial constraints.

"Finally, truth is out! 'National Security' stumped by a pseudo nationalist Modi Govt," Surjewala tweeted.

Shirdi, May 13 (PTI) A teen-aged boy was detained for allegedly raping an eight-year-old girl at the Shirdi temple town in Maharashtra's Ahmedanagar district, police said on Monday.

The boy, aged 14 years, took the girl to an isolated spot at Nimgaon village, located around three km from here, where he allegedly raped her on Sunday evening, Shirdi police station in-charge Anil Katake said.

The girl later informed about the incident to her parents who approached the police, he said.