India

New Delhi, Oct 20 (PTI) A haze engulfed the national capital as the air quality nosedived to very poor category with several areas inching towards severe pollution levels, authorities said Saturday.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 324, which falls in the very poor category and is highest of this season, creating hazy conditions, according to the data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Mathura, Oct 20 (PTI) While Ravana's effigies were burned at several places on Dussehra, an 'aarti' of the mythological character was performed at a Shiva temple in Mathura.

Activists of Lankesh Bhakta Mandal performed the 'aarti' Friday at the temple in Laxmi Nagar area amid clanging of bells and sound of conch shells.

"The crusade against burning of effigies of Ravana would continue till the orthodox custom of Ramleela is stopped," an activist said.

Bhubaneswar, Oct 20 (PTI) A nine-year-old boy from Bolangir district, whose decapitated body was found earlier this week, was a victim of human sacrifice, police said Saturday.

Police have arrested two people for their alleged involvement in the brutal killing -- the boy's uncle and brother -- one of whom have confessed to the crime, they said.

Titlagarh Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Saroj Mohapatra said the accused persons had sacrificed the boy to "appease goddess Durga for fulfilment of their wishes".

Bhopal, Oct 21 (PTI) Seeking a fourth straight term in Madhya Pradesh, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intends to cast a 'magic spell' on voters during the upcoming state Assembly polls.

The party would be roping in magicians to highlight the work done by it in the last 15 years and compare it with that of the previous Congress government, MP BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal told PTI.

Pratapgarh (UP), Oct 21 (PTI) A 55-year-old woman was beaten to death by her neighbours in Hinahu village in the Nawabganj area here due to old enmity, police said Sunday.

Madhuri Devi and her son Pankaj were attacked by Sanjay Tiwari and his associates with sticks on Saturday night, senior police officer Shivji Shukla said.

They were rushed to a hospital where Madhuri Devi died during treatment.

An FIR has been registered against Sanjay Tiwari, the husband of a village head, and his three associates.

Jaipur, Oct 21 (PTI) Two men have been arrested for allegedly gang-raping a 23-year-old Nepali woman here, police said Sunday.

Based on the survivor's complaint, the accused Lokesh Saini (19) and Kamal Saini (24) were arrested late Saturday night, said ACP Jaipur South K K Awasthi.

The accused had allegedly gang-raped the woman on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, SHO Muhana Police Station area Devendra Kumar said.

New Delhi, Oct 21 (PTI) Accusing the BJP-led Centre of using every "auspicious" occasion as a "political tool", Congress spokesperson Abhishekh Manu Singhvi Sunday said the saffron party was "desperate to rewrite history".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said a national award in the name of Subhash Chandra Bose would be given every year to those police personnel who did "exemplary work" in the rescue-and-relief operations during any kind of disasters.

Srinagar, Oct 21 (PTI) Three militants were killed Sunday in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, while six civilians lost their lives in a blast following the gunfight there, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Laroo area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir following specific information about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said.

While conducting searches the militants fired upon them, he said, adding three terrorists were killed in the ensuing encounter.

A seventy year old man was stoned to death by a group of monkeys on October 17 in Tikri village.

According to Krishnapal Singh, the brother of the deceased, Dharampal was collecting woods when he was attacked by the monkeys. Bricks were thrown at his head and chest. Dharampal was admitted in hospital where he succumbed to injuries.

Meerut; A BJP councillor named Munish Kumar from Meerut has been arrested for assaulting a Sub-Inspector after a video showing him thrashing and abusing a Sub-Inspector went viral.

According to The Indian Express, “The sub-inspector, who was accompanied by a lady lawyer, got into an argument with a waiter which later turned violent as Kumar intervened. The councillor could be heard accusing the cop of being drunk and also hurled abuses at him, to which the lady lawyer retaliated similarly.”