Underworld Don becomes Yoga Guru

Once, his name induced fear. Now, he hopes it will help calm nerves.

D K Rao, once a key aide of gangster Chhota Rajan, says he wants to set-up an institute that teaches yoga. Read More................Underworld don leaves jail, teaches yoga

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Students punished for not speaking English

"I don't talk in Telugu" - that's what Class 7 students of a private school in Mahbubnagar were asked to write over and over. Vasu, a child who was among those punished says, "Madam asked us to write 'I don't talk in Telugu' on 10 pages."The teacher and school insist this was to help develop language skills. "Since this is English medium school, they should speak in English," says Sunitha, the teacher who ordered the exercise. Read More................Students punished, ordered "No Telugu"

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Bride dumps groom during wedding

AMBALA: The new-age Indian woman has arrived. A bride from Ambala Cantt on Monday walked out on her groom the moment she set eyes on him after the jai mala (garlanding) ceremony, as if, in instant realisation that he wasn’t the man of her dreams. No amount of ranting and raving by the boy and his family or police intervention could bring about a change of heart. Read More................Bride dumps groom during wedding

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Parents wait for 3 years to cremate son

Three years after his death, all that remains of Chukkan Nishad's body is a skeleton that lies on the terrace of a police station in Ahraula Village waiting to be cremated.

The 22-year-old had gone missing in 2007. A few days later, a body was found in the sugarcane field close to the village. Chukkan's family identified it as his. But the police insisted on a DNA test to verify their claim. Now, all that is left him are his bones - the DNA test still not conducted. Read More................Parents wait for 3 years to cremate son

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Driver abducts excise officials to evade toll tax

Rajpura: A man allegedly tried to abduct two excise officers when he was being asked for a toll tax at a check post in this Punjab town, police said.

The driver of a Swift car sped away, along with two Excise and Taxation officials, to escape paying tax at the toll barrier in Patiala's Rajpura, around 35 km from the state capital Chandigarh. Read More................Driver abducts excise officials to evade toll tax

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Where dogs get to eat before people

KHANPUR (PATIALA): Unknown to most outside Patiala, a diktat by Alaa Singh (1695-1765) is cast in stone by villagers, and is followed till this day and dogs get to eat before worshippers at the temple — all three meals of the day. Read More................For 300 years, every dog had its day in Punjab

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Elderly strangled for Rs 150 in UP

LUCKNOW: That the value of human life is going down by the day is well known. But, how low can it fall? In Etah, Uttar Pradesh, the police arrested an alleged contract killer who strangled an old man for just Rs 150.(US $ 3.25) Read More................Contract killing: Elderly strangled for Rs 150 in UP

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Kilometre-long invite for Barack Obama

Barack Obama has mail - from a place in Uttar Pradesh state in India that he would never have heard of.

And how! Measuring over one kilometre, the letter has been put together by more than 11,000 people over eight months and carries a simple message for the US president - 'Come and inspire hope: lots of love from Basti district, Uttar Pradesh'.

Many of the two million-odd residents of Uttar Pradesh's Basti district, some 300 km from state capital Lucknow, have collaborated to prepare the one-km long invitation letter for President Obama. They want the US president to visit the district and address them. Read More................Kilometre-long invite for Obama - from Uttar Pradesh

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For nine years, he has been in the nude

Bhubaneswar: Confined in a dark room by his family, a 37-year-old man in Orissa has been living in the nude since for nine long years. Read More................For nine years, he has been in the nude

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Buffaloes do the 'catwalk' in Bihar

Patna: In a rare event, buffaloes are being dressed up and paraded to do the 'catwalk' in Bihar's Madhepura town to draw people's attention to their plight.

Over a dozen well decorated buffaloes took part in a show to display their beauty and style in Madhepura town, about 350 km from here, earlier this week. Read More................Buffaloes do the 'catwalk' in Bihar

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When Indian traders prayed to Computers

NEW DELHI: There are probably few things more sacred to traders than the account book and so traditionally on Diwali, they have been praying to it. This year however, a group of businessmen prayed to their computers instead. Read More................Instead of account books, these traders pray to computers this Diwali

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Tribals allow Cows to run over them in festival

In a traditional ritual, tribals in Gujarat’s Dahod district allow cows and bulls to run over them every year on second day after Diwali when they celebrate Gaai Gohri festival.

Cows are considered sacred and worshiped across India, but this annual ritual called Gaai Gohri in Garbada village near Dahod town is one of its own kind. The ritual is celebrated two-days after Diwali, which also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. Read More................Tribals allow cows to run over them in Dahod’s Gaai Gohri festival

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30 injured in Diwali 'war'

At least 30 people were injured during the traditional 'Hingot war' between two villages on the second day of Diwali festivities in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district, eyewitnesses said.

'While eyewitnesses claim that as many as 30 participants suffered burns and other injuries during the war that lasted more than two hours on Sunday, we have only 10-12 reported cases,' police said Monday. Read More................30 injured in traditional Diwali 'war'

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A miracle? Immersed Kali idol resurfaces

KOLKATA: An immersed Kali idol near Howrah apparently rose from its watery vault in the Hooghly, convincing thousands of a miracle and turning a temple into a pilgrimage spot on Monday. A bunch of rationalists has since tried to reason that it had a more earthly explanation: a hurried immersion, combined with a trick played by the tide. Read More................A miracle? Immersed Kali idol resurfaces

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For this Goddess Kali, bhog is noodles and chopsuey

KOLKATA: There is nothing different about the Kali idol. But one look at the `bhog' - noodles, chopsuey, rice-and-vegetables dishes - and you realize this isn't just any Kali temple.

In the heart of Kolkata's Tangra area -- India's own Chinatown -- stands this unique symbol of cross-cultural assimilation. The `Chinese Kali Temple' (so the marble plaque says) is not only a bridge between Chinese and Indian cultures, but also strengthens bonds within the Chinese community. Read More................For this Kali, bhog is noodles and chopsuey

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Couple forced to become siblings

A love-struck couple was repeatedly hit with shoes for their "illegitimate" love affair and then forced to tie a Rakhi and become "brother and sister" in a village in Uttar Pradesh.

The village panchayat forced this upon them on Wednesday evening, police said. The incident occurred in Kukra village in Bijnor district, about 350 km from here.

Pintoo Sharma, 30, and his 28-year-old lover were brought before a village panchayat when they were found sitting together in a garden on Wednesday evening, locals said.Read More................Uttar Pradesh couple forced to become siblings

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Poll symbols: From bananas to bangles

Decoding the Election Commission's chart of poll symbols is a rather intriguing exercise in semiotics. Some are easy to decipher - like the Congress party's hand. It could be the hand that represents unity, that governs resolutely and so on. Or it could stand for something entirely un-political , as a joke circulated after the last Lok Sabha elections suggests: when more than 50 per cent of the voters were males under the age of 30, it's no wonder that the hand won. Read More................Poll symbols: From bananas to bangles, take your pick

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A stone fight every Diwali, never to the finish

Badaun (Utar Pradesh): For residents of two villages in this district, Diwali festivities are not only about fireworks, lighting lamps and distributing sweets. They celebrate the festival also by throwing stones at one another.

It's called Pattharmar Diwali, which has become a tradition for the residents of Faizganj and Behta villages in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district, 280 km from state capital Lucknow. Read More................A fight every Diwali, never to the finish

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After son's birth, father dumps daughters at railway station

Bhubaneswar, Oct 12 : A rickshaw puller dumped his two daughters - aged three and one - at a railway station in Orissa after he fathered a son, police said Monday.

The two girls Mamuni and Chummuni were left to fend for themselves, but were recovered by railway police officials. Read More................After son's birth, father dumps daughters at railway station

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& now 'Amitabh Chalisa'

PATNA: After "Lalu Chalisa" and "Nitish Chalisa", now there is "Amitabh Chalisa". A Bihar-based lawyer has composed a specially-structured hymn in praise of the Bollywood megastar, who turned 67 recently.

Sharad Kumar, an advocate practicising in Arrah civil court in Bhojpur district, about 60 km from here, has penned "Amitabh Chalisa". A chalisa is traditionally a Hindu hymn invoking 40 names of the god being worshipped, but in recent years they have been written in praise of politicians as well. Read More................Bihar-based lawyer composes 'Amitabh Chalisa'

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More wives to bring in more votes?

GUWAHATI: They say behind every successful man there’s a woman. But in Arunachal Pradesh, behind a number of ‘‘successful’’ politicians, there is almost always more than one woman. A list of candidates fighting the October 13 elections from state’s 60 seats confirms this.Read More................Arunachal: More wives to bring in more votes?

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Two scientists face charge of attempting human sacrifice

Bhopal: A case has been slapped against two senior scientists of the Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior, who were accused of attempting to use their junior colleague as a human sacrifice, police said Sunday.

Shradha Sharma, wife of Sushil Kumar, a junior scientist at the DRDE, in her complaint to the police Saturday night accused two senior scientists at the DRDE of being involved in witchcraft and attempting to make a human sacrifice of her husband. Read More................Two scientists face charge of attempting human sacrifice

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Cops shoo away 'murderer'

MUMBAI: On October 2, 28-year-old Mithu Saha landed up at Wadala police station and told the officer on duty that he had killed his wife and wanted to surrender. The cop turned him away, saying that since the crime was committed within the limits of another police station, he needed to turn himself in there. Saha earnestly followed the instructions instead of having second thoughts. Read More................Mumbai cops shoo away 'murderer'

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Students forced to clean urinals for coming late

Lucknow: The principal of a government-run school in Uttar Pradesh forced Class 5 students to clean urinals and mop the floors as punishment for not attending their classes regularly, an official said Friday, adding that the administration had ordered a probe.

The incident happened Thursday at the Behramgarh primary school in Kandhla town of Muzaffarnagar district, about 350 km from Lucknow. Read More................Students forced to clean urinals for coming late

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Muslims in Bihar refuse to get their children vaccinated

PATNA — At least 79 Muslim families here have refused to vaccinate their children against polio claiming it causes impotency, officials said Wednesday.

“A total of 79 families have refused to vaccinate their children against polio in Muslim dominated Phulwarisharief block, situated on the outskirts of Patna,” Piyush Kumar, a doctor, said. Read More................Muslims refuse to get their children vaccinated

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Mother jumps from running train to save newborn

A mother who gave birth on a train jumped off it as the newborn slipped through the toilet pipe and fell on the tracks in West Bengal, a railway official said Wednesday. Both the mother and baby are fine. Read More................Mother jumps from running train to save newborn

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Couple fights at airport for 6 hours

KOLKATA: A six-hour drama unfolded at Kolkata airport on Sunday afternoon as a married couple screamed, swore and scuffled in front of hundreds of onlookers. The woman ended up missing her flight, which led to more trouble with her in-laws.

The woman, a South African, had married an NRI from Kolkata in Cape Town recently. She arrived in the city on Sunday morning, her first trip to visit her in-laws. But within hours, a quarrel broke out and she decided to leave the city. Read More................Couple fights at airport for 6 hours

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Tattoos ward off stomach aches

Sporting skin tattoos may be a fad for English footballer David Beckham or film star Saif Ali Khan, but children in Jharkhand wear them around their navels to be protected from stomach ailments - though unwittingly.

A tribal child in Jharkhand on the 21st day of his life undergoes a painful puncturing of skin around the navel with a hot sickle; the belief is that it will protect the child from various diseases. Read More................Jharkhand: Tattoos ward off stomach aches

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Man bites off wife's nose

A man, in a fit of anger, bit off his wife's nose and then walked to a police station in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district to surrender Wednesday. The victim is being treated in hospital. Read More................Man bites off wife's nose, surrenders before police

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Toy pistol used in daring train robbery

Robbers held a whole bogey hostage and took away cash and jewellery in moving trainIt just doesn't happen in movies. The robbers involved in the audacious train robbery on Sunday night in north Delhi used a toy pistol, besides knives, to take a bogey full passengers hostage. Read More................Toy pistol used in daring train robbery

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Stone pelting festival

Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh): Hundreds of people converged at Kaladev village in Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha district on the final day of Dussera to indulge in a traditional stone hurling festival. Read More................Stone pelting festival celebrated in Madhya Pradesh

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Guard guns down youth over peeing

Answering the call of nature in public can be fatal. A 22-year-old man was shot down by a petrol pump station guard after a heated argument over the youth's attempt to pee within the premises, Delhi Police said. Read More................Guard guns down youth over peeing in Delhi

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90-year-old in poll fray

A 90-year-old farmer is contesting the October 13 Assembly polls from Shirol constituency in Kolhapur district of western Maharashtra as a Congress candidate, courtesy party general secretary Rahul Gandhi. Read More................90-year-old in poll fray, courtesy young Rahul Gandhi

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