BRUSSELS, October 21. /TASS/. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has laid responsibility on Russia for the US decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), noting that Moscow 'highly likely' violates this agreement, NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu said on Sunday.

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.

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.

New Delhi, Octber 21; GANASHAKTI: In an interesting development, India’s premier investigating agency The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has named its Special Director Rakesh Asthana as an accused for allegedly demanding and taking bribe from a businessman who was being investigated in the Moin Qureshi corruption case by a special investigation team led by Rakesh Asthana.

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.

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) Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot Sunday said the people of the state would celebrate Diwali twice this year, first on November 7

and again on December 7 when the Congress will come to power here.

Speaking at a 'Booth Jitao, Bhrashtachar Mitao' event here, Pilot said the BJP will be removed from the state and a new government will be formed on December 7.

Jammu, Oct 21 (PTI) Buoyed by the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) election results in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP said Sunday it is hopeful to win over 50 assembly seats in the next elections and form a government on its own in the state.

The BJP swept the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) elections and made some advances in Kashmir, by winning 100 wards in the Valley, in the four-phased ULB elections in the state that were marred by boycott by the NC and PDP.

Lucknow, Oct 21 (PTI) To give an edge to the BJP in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, four spokespersons from the party's Uttar Pradesh unit have been dispatched to the neighbouring state for effective media management, a party leader said Sunday.

The spokespersons will be responsible for disseminating information pertaining to various welfare measures initiated by the Centre and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, where voting will be held on November 28.

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.

New Delhi, Oct 21; PTI:  In the long list of renamed Indian cities, Shimla could be the latest entrant as the ruling BJP government is considering a proposal to change its name to Shyamala.

A campaign has been launched by some right-wing Hindu groups demanding that the capital of Himachal Pradesh be renamed.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and state health minister Vipin Singh Parmar said many cities in different parts of the country used to have historic names but they were changed.

So, there would not be any harm in reverting to those names.

Bhubaneswar, Oct 20 (PTI) The toll in Cyclone Titli and the subsequent floods in Odisha rose to 61, with the state government confirming four more casualties on Saturday.

Reports of death of 11 more people were being verified at district level, Chief Secretary A P Padhi said after a review of relief and restoration activities in the 17 affected districts.

He said four more people had died in the cyclone and the resultant floods.