Andhra Pradesh

Former judge K Ravinder Reddy, who quit after delivering the verdict in the Mecca Masjid blast case, has joined the Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), part of the opposition alliance led by the Congress for the coming Assembly polls, weeks after expressing keenness to embrace the BJP.

The move is being seen as a shot in the arm for the TJS in the run-up to the December 7 polls. Reddy was welcomed into the party by TJS president M Kodandaram at an event Saturday.

Former judge K Ravinder Reddy, who quit after delivering the verdict in the Mecca Masjid blast case, has joined the Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), part of the opposition alliance led by the Congress for the coming Assembly polls, weeks after expressing keenness to embrace the BJP.

The move is being seen as a shot in the arm for the TJS in the run-up to the December 7 polls. Reddy was welcomed into the party by TJS president M Kodandaram at an event Saturday.

Visakhapatnam (AP), Oct 12 (PTI) A woman Maoist, an accused in the recent killing of two TDP leaders, including an MLA, was gunned down by security forces in alleged encounter near Andrapali forest Friday during intense combing operations, police said.

They said four maoists, including three women, were captured after the exchange of fire during the combing operations held in the forest near Andhra-Odhisha border.

The deceased Maoistwas identified as 40-year old N Meena, wife of top Maoist leader Gajarla Ravi alias Uday alias Anand, police said.

Amaravati/Bhubaneswar, Oct 11 (PTI) A very severe cyclonic storm packing winds of up to 150 kmph and widespread rains hit eastern India Thursday, killing eight people in Andhra Pradesh and one in Odisha, damaging homes, uprooting trees and power lines in the two states.

Cyclone 'Titli' made landfall on the eastern coast early Thursday, wreaking havoc mainly in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha's Gajapati and Ganjam districts.

Machilipatnam (AP), Oct 10 (PTI) A man allegedly sexually assaulted his four and a half-year-old daughter, police here Wednesday said. .

The girl's mother lodged a complaint after she complained about severe body pain and narrated her ordeal, DSP V Pothuraju said.

The incident occurred Saturday.

According to the complaint, the man, a school teacher, offered chocolate to the girl while she was on her way to school and later allegedly sexually assaulted her.