Madhya Pradesh

Chhindwara (MP), Dec 31 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath Monday said he wanted to see cows in shelters and not on the state's streets.

He told officials during a review meeting here Monday that he wished to see cow shelters being built in each district of the state.

"I do not want to see gau matas (cows) on the roads, Instead, I want to see them in cow sheds (shelters)," he said during a review meeting of officials here.

Nath is a nine-time Lok Sabha MP from Chhindwara and was sworn in as CM on December 17.

Bhopal, Dec 29 (PTI) The Congress-led Madhya Pradesh Government said Saturday that it is going to create an Adhyatmik Vibhag (spiritual department) by merging several existing departments.

The Congress had promised to form such a department before the last month's Assembly elections.

The `Anand Vibhag' (Department of Happiness) set up by the previous BJP government, a first in the country, would be incorporated into the new department.

Bhopal, Dec 27 (PTI) An eight-year-old girl, student of a private school in Bhopal city, was allegedly raped by her classmate, police said Thursday.

According to the complaint filed by her parents, another unidentified boy was also involved in the crime.

While the police were yet to receive the girl's medical report, a special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the shocking incident.

The alleged incident took place near the girl's house Tuesday. The case was registered Wednesday after the girl's parents approached police.

Bhopal, Dec 26 (PTI) A Congress worker on Wednesday wore shoes after 15 years, fulfilling the vow he had taken when the party lost power in Madhya Pradesh.

Durgalal Kirar, hailing from Rajgarh district, had vowed in 2003 that he would not wear shoes until the Congress returned to power.

He put on shoes Wednesday here in the presence of Chief Minister Kamal Nath and senior leader Digvijay Singh.

The Congress came to power in the state in the last month's Assembly elections, ending the BJP's reign.

Bhopal (MP), Dec 22 (PTI) A 40-year-old Pakistani man, who has been staying at a Bhopal Police Station since the last nine months after his 10-year jail term got over here, would be repatriated to his home country on December 26, officials said Saturday.

The repatriation of Mohammed Imran Warsi is taking place after over a week of software engineer and Mumbai resident Hamid Nihal Ansari being released by Pakistan after he served six years in a jail in that country on espionage charges.

Jabalpur, Dec 19 (PTI) A 19-year-old man was Wednesday sentenced to death by a court in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh for raping and murdering a five-year-old girl in August this year.

Additional District Sessions Judge A K Singh held the accused, Anand Kushwaha, guilty under relevant sections of IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The court awarded Kushwaha death sentence under sections 376(A) (rape) and 302 (murder) of the IPC, said special public prosecutor Sheikh Wasim.

Bhopal, Dec 17 (PTI) Loans of up to Rs two lakh of Madhya Pradesh farmers will be waived, with Chief Minister Kamal Nath Monday signing a file to the effect.

The move follows a promise by Congress president Rahul Gandhi during the poll campaign that if people of Madhya Pradesh voted for Congress, then they would implement farmers' loan waiver within 10 days of coming to power.

Nath was sworn in as the state's 18th CM Monday.

Bhopal, Dec 14 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath said he will take oath as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh on December 17.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place at Lal Parade Ground here around 1.30 pm, Nath told reporters outside Raj Bhavan.

Nath, along with senior Congress leaders, including Digvijay Singh, Vivek Tankha and others met Governor Anandiben Patel and informed her about his election as Congress Legislature Party leader, following which the governor invited him for the oath.

The meeting lasted for nearly 50 minutes.

Indore (MP), Dec 6 (PTI) Indore police in Madhya Pradesh arrested three members of a family Thursday for allegedly torturing and raping a girl after telling her family that she could lead them to hidden treasure.

Ajay Sonane (23) was accused of raping and torturing the 14-year-old girl while his mother Sunita Sonane (40) and grand-mother Geeta Sonane (65) were accused of helping him, said inspector Neeta Derwal of Gandhi Nagar police station.

Bhopal, Dec 4 (PTI) Union minister Uma Bharti Tuesday said she won't contest the next Lok Sabha elections.

The senior BJP leader's announcement came days after her cabinet colleague Sushma Swaraj said she won't contest the next LS polls.

Bharti said she will instead concentrate on the issues of Ram temple in Ayodhya and cleanliness of the River Ganga for the next one-and-a half years.

Bharti said she would "embark on a pilgrimage to devote time for Ganga river and Lord Ram by leaving power".