Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow, Jul 19 (PTI) A 28-year-old Dalit man Friday sustained injuries after some people mistook him for a thief and allegedly tried to burn him alive when he entered a house to avoid stray dogs in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district, police said.

The victim, Sujit Kumar, was rushed to a hospital, where his condition is stated to be stable, they said, adding that two of the four accused named in the FIR had been arrested.

Lucknow /Mirzapur, July 20 (PTI) Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra spent the night at the Chunar guesthouse in Mirzapur district, turning down all requests of the local administration to return without meeting the Sonbhadra clash victims.

In a late-night tweet, she said she is ready to go to jail if she is not allowed to go ahead.

Mirzapur/Lucknow, Jul 20 (PTI) Family members of the Sonbhadra clash victims Saturday met Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at the Chunar guesthouse in Mirzapur district, where she spent a night in detention.

Twelve members of the affected families met the Congress general secretary at the guesthouse, senior party leader Ajay Rai said.

Priyanka Gandhi was stopped from going to Sonbhadra and detained on Friday. She spent the night at the guesthouse, turning down all requests of the local administration to return without meeting the families of the clash victims.

Sonebhadra, July 19; IANS/GANASHAKTI: The bloody clashes that left 10 persons dead in Murtiya village in Sonebhadra now seem like a scene straight out of a Bollywood potboiler.

According to reports, the village head and the main accused in the massacre, Yagya Dutt, had brought about 200 men on 32 tractor trolleys to take possession of the disputed land.

After the tribals who were tilling the land, opposed his attempt to take possession of the land, Yagya Dutt's men fired at them for over half-an-hour.

Lucknow Jul 19 (PTI) Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi was Friday stopped in Mirzapur district from proceeding towards Sonbhadra to meet the victims of a clash that claimed 10 lives.

Nineteen people were injured in the incident on Wednesday in Uttar Pradesh. Some of them were admitted to a hospital in Varanasi and the others at a health facility in Sonbhadra district.

Agra, Jul 19 (PTI) A massive greening drive is to be launched soon to curb environmental pollution in the eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone of Agra spread over 10,400 sq km, said officials Friday.

Alarmed at the sharp pace of denudation due to the large-scale construction and expansion of infrastructural facilities, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced a target of planting 22 crore saplings by the end of August, said Forest Department officials.

Kanpur: Just near the Circuit House in Cantt area here, there exïsts Shaheed Park. It is not as beautiful as it should actually be. The flowers are not blooming in its closed area, though trimmed plants are there. The beautifully designed fountain which used to be working was no longer oozing out water. The four-side light posts standing on the shining black stone podium are broken in one corner. The rows on the ground are giving the proof that the gardener devoted time but the saplings lack buds. It may be due to the summer.

Ballia (UP), Jul 18 (PTI) A 10 year-old girl was allegedly raped by a minor boy in a village here, police said on Thursday.

The girl was playing near a village temple when the 17-year-old accused lured her into his house on the pretext of showing her an animated film and alleged raped her on Tuesday, SP Devendra Nath said.

An FIR was lodged at the Nagra Police Station on the basis of a complaint from the girl's mother, Nath said.

The accused has been apprehended, the SP said, adding that the medical examination of the girl is being conducted.

Sonbhadra, Jul 18 (PTI) Twenty-four people have been arrested in connection with Wednesday's clash over a land dispute in Sonbhadra, even as the death toll in the incident rose to 10 with one more person succumbing to injuries, officials said on Thursday.

18 others were injured when a village head and his supporters allegedly opened fire on a rival group, leading to the clash. The deceased belonged to the Gond tribe.

Superintendent of Police S T Patil said 24 persons have been arrested and attempts are on to nab others.

Kanpur: City Mayor's sudden visit to Nagar Nigam Workshop at Fazalganj area was a matter of surprise for the officials there. She arrived at the place on Thursday morning. When she started inquiring about the non-use of a few small vehicles parked at the Workshop premises, the officers could not provide a satisfactory reply. They also did not answer why we're vehicles not brought into use for the past two months.

A total of 38 employees were posted at the Workshop but not all found on duty. Thereupon she sought the detailed report on them from the office.