India

Guwahati, Mar 18 (PTI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is in Assam to canvas for Congress candidates, on Thursday likened the BJP regime with the British reign, and said the saffron camp has adopted "divisive and self-serving" policies, as did the colonial rulers.

Baghel, in a statement here, said the BJP was out to destroy peace and harmony in Assam.

Barabanki (UP), Mar 18 (PTI) A 16-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped by four people while she was returning from school in a village here, police said on Thursday.

Her father, who is contesting the upcoming panchayat elections, has alleged that the incident, which took place on Tuesday, was aimed at dissuading him from entering the poll fray, they said.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Manoj Pandey said the victim was sent for a medical examination, and a case was registered based on a complaint lodged by her father.

Chitrakoot (UP), Mar 17 (PTI) A case has been registered against five people for allegedly raping a 27-year-old woman in Uttar Pradesh's Chitrakoot district, police said on Wednesday.

The woman lodged a complaint on Tuesday, alleging that a youth and four of his friends reached her house in the night of March 5, took her to a field, and raped her, police said.

The case against the five was registered at Bharatkoop police station based on the woman's complaint, they said.

Agra (UP), Mar 17 (PTI) The blood-soaked body of a priest was found in a temple in a forest here, police said on Wednesday.

An axe, which was allegedly used to kill the priest, was also found lying near the body in Pathwari temple on Mau road in Khandari area here, they said.

Banda (UP), Mar 17 (PTI) A 45-year-old farmer allegedly hanged himself at his home in the Matundh area here on Wednesday, with his family members claiming he was facing severe financial problems.

The deceased, Ranvijay Singh, lived in Muderi village in the district, police said, adding that according to his family members, he might have killed himself over financial issues.

The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination, and the matter is being investigated, the police added.

Jaipur, Mar 17 (PTI) Three people were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly vandalising the office of a publishing house here over printing of some controversial text, police said.

Sanjeev Passbook publication manager Vijay Shukla said the dispute was due to a mention about 'Islamic terrorism' in a political science book.

The book triggered a row after it allegedly had text comparing Islam with terrorism, stating it was nothing but "a form of Islam".

Guwahati, Mar 17 (PTI) The Congress Wednesday expressed amazement and ridiculed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanat for his comment on 15th century Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva to draw attention to the problem of infiltration in Assam, for which he blamed the party.

Adityanath needs lessons in history as does Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had said that Lachit Barphukan was a freedom fighter when he was an Ahom general who fought the famous battle of Saraighat in 1671, Congress spokeperperson Bobeeta Sharma said.

Ghaziabad, Mar 17 (PTI) The government and the BJP are not trustworthy, BKU president Naresh Tikait alleged on Wednesday, as he hit out at the Centre over the contentious agriculture laws.

Tikait made the remark as he participated in a monthly meeting of his farmers' union at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border.

Kolkata, Mar 17 (PTI) The Election Commission on Wednesday removed the superintendent of Howrah (Rural) Soumya Roy as Trinamool Congress has nominated his wife, actor Lovely Moitra as candidate for Sonarpur Dakshin assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district for the coming Assembly poll in West Bengal, an official said.

Roy was replaced by Shrihari Pandey and will not be allowed any poll duty this time, he said.

Noida (UP), Mar 17 (PTI) Police in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar on Tuesday invoked section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) till April 30, prohibiting unauthorised protests and warning of action against people not following COVID-19 protocols like social distancing and wearing face masks at public places, according to an order.