Blast in Assam Kills One, Injures Three Others

Goalpara:  One person was killed and three others injured in a blast in front of a police station in Assam’s Goalpara district today.

Police say at around 8 am, an IED or Improvised explosive device allegedly planted on a bicycle exploded outside the Krishnai police station.

The injured have been taken to hospital where they are being treated.

Shiv Sena MPs Accused of Forcing Muslim Staff to Eat In Maharashtra Sadan Row

Parliamentarians of the Shiv Sena allegedly forced a Muslim catering supervisor, who was fasting for Ramzan, to eat a chapati during a row over food at the Maharashtra Sadan last week.

The Sena leaders have been accused of misbehaving with the staff for not serving them Maharashtrian food.

The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Company or IRCTC has reportedly stopped catering for the state guest house in protest, alleging that their resident manager, Arshad, was forced to eat a chapatti.

Close Shave for Rajdhani Train After Maoists Blow up Track in Bihar

Gaya:  A major disaster was averted after a pilot engine detected a damaged railway track near Gaya in Bihar just hours before a Rajdhani train was to pass though that area. Maoists had allegedly blown up the track last night.

The incident happened around 11 pm last night when the driver of the engine alerted authorities about the track between Islampur and Rafiganj. It was running ahead of the New Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani as also a Rajdhani that was headed from New Delhi to Bhubanewswar.

JD-U inching closer to forging alliance with Lalu’s RJD: Vashisht Narayan Singh

The chief of the Bihar unit of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) party, Vashisht Narayan Singh, on Tuesday, said that his party is inching closer to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), but added that the timing of meeting RJD chief Lalu Yadav is yet to be decided.

Singh said, “Time has not been fixed (to meet Lalu) till now. When talks will be done with him (RJD chief) and time will be fixed, then, I will be able to say something. But this is for sure that we are coming closer and supporting each other. We expect that this will give way to our future plans as well.”

Twelve killed, over 20 injured as bus falls into ravine in AJK

MUZAFFARABAD: At least 12 people were killed and over 20 others were injured Monday when a speeding bus fell into a ravine in Azad Kashmir’s Mirpur area, DawnNews reported.

The bus carrying passengers from Bhimber was travelling to Samahni when the driver lost control at Poona due to speeding. As a result, the bus fell into a ravine.

On receiving information, police and rescue team personnel reached the site of incident and retrieved the dead bodies and injured persons out of the bus with the assistance of locals present in the area.

Pakistan asks Afghan authorities to ensure border security

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan here on Thursday called on Afghan authorities to ensure their border security so that attacks emanating from their soil are stopped. Speaking during her weekly press briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam has said that that Pakistan condemns all forms of terrorism.

Eight killed as taxi plunges into Chenab river in Jammu

JAMMU: Eight people were killed after their vehicle plunged into the Chenab river in Kishtwar district of Jammu region on Wednesday, police said.

“A taxi went out of the driver’s control and fell into the river at Dachan,” a police officer said. “Eight passengers were killed in this accident.”

Iraq crisis: Over 90 Indians left Baghdad, other regions, says MEA

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said that several Indians trapped in Iraq have left for India as the country battles ongoing militant onslaught.

While speaking to the reporters, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that from Karbala, 30 Indians have left Iraq today and the rest 100 will leave in next 3 to 4 days.

“From Najaf, 60 Indian have left today. For 31 papers will be processed tomorrow and for the remaining 30 it will be done a day after.

President Pranab Mukherjee congratulates ISRO team over PSLVC23 launch

President Pranab Mukherjee today congratulated space agency ISRO for the successful launch of rocket PSLV-C23, saying it is a significant milestone in the progress of the country’s space capabilities. India launched five foreign satellites from four countries on board PSLV-C23 rocket which placed them in orbit.

At least 38 killed in DR Congo ethnic violence: govt

KINSHASA: A total of 38 people died in ethnic violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo at the weekend, many massacred when a church was set ablaze, the government said Tuesday.

The killings took place overnight Friday in Mutarule, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Bukavu, the capital of Sud-Kivu province.

Earlier, local sources said the toll was at least 30 men, women and children, and that most of the victims were ethnic Bafuliru.