Election Commission, UP police raid BJP office in Varanasi

Varanasi: A day before polling for the high stake contest here, Uttar Pradesh police and election commission officials on Sunday conducted search at BJP's regional office in the city and seized campaign material, prompting strong protest from the party.

A flying squad of the state police and EC swooped down on the party office amid a ban on all election campaign activities since last evening for the polls, where BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is pitted against AAP's Arvind Kejriwal and Congress' Ajay Rai among others.

Officials said that the action was taken to seize election campaign material as it had got information about such items being sent in large quantity from the BJP office here in the Sigra locality, despite a ban on poll campaign in place. BJP leaders, however, claimed that these were unused campaign material and the party was not indulging in any campaign activities.

The seized items included T-shirts, pamphlets, badges, officials said, while adding that they found these products being transported from the BJP office.

The party leaders countered this with claims that the unused products were being returned to their respective manufacturers.

They alleged that the latest incident further proves the administration and election authorities' "partisan" approach against BJP and linked the raid to the local administration's denial of permission to Modi's rally here on May 8.

Election Commission, UP police raid BJP office in Varanasi

Varanasi: A day before polling for the high stake contest here, Uttar Pradesh police and election commission officials on Sunday conducted search at BJP's regional office in the city and seized campaign material, prompting strong protest from the party.

A flying squad of the state police and EC swooped down on the party office amid a ban on all election campaign activities since last evening for the polls, where BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is pitted against AAP's Arvind Kejriwal and Congress' Ajay Rai among others.

Officials said that the action was taken to seize election campaign material as it had got information about such items being sent in large quantity from the BJP office here in the Sigra locality, despite a ban on poll campaign in place. BJP leaders, however, claimed that these were unused campaign material and the party was not indulging in any campaign activities.

The seized items included T-shirts, pamphlets, badges, officials said, while adding that they found these products being transported from the BJP office.

The party leaders countered this with claims that the unused products were being returned to their respective manufacturers.

They alleged that the latest incident further proves the administration and election authorities' "partisan" approach against BJP and linked the raid to the local administration's denial of permission to Modi's rally here on May 8.

Girl's visit to Sabarimala: Purification rituals to be held

Kottayam: Taking a serious view of the visit of chief priest's 11-year old daughter to the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple in violation of bar on entry of women in 10-50 age group, officials Saturday decided to perform 'purificatory rituals' at the shrine at the expense of the priest himself.

A meeting of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) held here viewed the girl's visit to the famous hill shrine as a serious breach of tradition and also removed the temple Executive Officer from the post in connection with the incident.

It felt that the incident warranted conduct of 'parihara kriya' and 'suddhi kirya'(atonement and purificatory rituals), official sources said.

The TDB meeting, chaired by its President M P Govindan Nair, however, refrained from taking drastic action like dismissal of the chief priest (melsanthi), though certain quarters had demanded his removal before the expiry of his remaining tenure of six months.

Chief priest for the Sabarimala temple is appointed for a period of one year just before the commencement of the annual pilgrimage season in October. As per the temple custom, he has to stay at the temple complex till his term is over.

The Sabarimala Special Commissioner, in his report submitted to the High Court earlier this week, stated that the girl had reached 'sannidhanam' (sanctum sanctorum) and offered prayers on April 17, violating temple traditions.

The report was drawn up based on a probe by the Vigilance Wing of the TDB, the sources said.

The claim of Kannada film actress Jaimala that she had offered worship at the shrine of Lord Ayyappa in her prime youth had sparked a huge controversy about 10 years back.

Girl's visit to Sabarimala: Purification rituals to be held

Kottayam: Taking a serious view of the visit of chief priest's 11-year old daughter to the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple in violation of bar on entry of women in 10-50 age group, officials Saturday decided to perform 'purificatory rituals' at the shrine at the expense of the priest himself.

A meeting of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) held here viewed the girl's visit to the famous hill shrine as a serious breach of tradition and also removed the temple Executive Officer from the post in connection with the incident.

It felt that the incident warranted conduct of 'parihara kriya' and 'suddhi kirya'(atonement and purificatory rituals), official sources said.

The TDB meeting, chaired by its President M P Govindan Nair, however, refrained from taking drastic action like dismissal of the chief priest (melsanthi), though certain quarters had demanded his removal before the expiry of his remaining tenure of six months.

Chief priest for the Sabarimala temple is appointed for a period of one year just before the commencement of the annual pilgrimage season in October. As per the temple custom, he has to stay at the temple complex till his term is over.

The Sabarimala Special Commissioner, in his report submitted to the High Court earlier this week, stated that the girl had reached 'sannidhanam' (sanctum sanctorum) and offered prayers on April 17, violating temple traditions.

The report was drawn up based on a probe by the Vigilance Wing of the TDB, the sources said.

The claim of Kannada film actress Jaimala that she had offered worship at the shrine of Lord Ayyappa in her prime youth had sparked a huge controversy about 10 years back.

Hamas rejects US demand for recognising Israel

Gaza: The Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip Saturday condemned as intervening in internal affairs a US demand that the Palestinian government recognise Israel.

"Hamas does not rule out that the recent visit of the US National Security Adviser Susan Rice to Ramallah last week was meant to spoil the Palestinian national reconciliation," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a press release.

He called for accelerating efforts to implement the reconciliation agreement signed last month between his movement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, Xinhua reported citing the release.

During her meeting with Abbas Thursday, Rice reiterated the US's policy that any Palestinian government must unambiguously and explicitly be committed to non-violence, recognition of the state of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations between the two parties.

Abbas previously reiterated that the future unity government would stick to his policies of non-violence and recognising Israel.

Late in April, rival Palestinian Hamas movement and Abbas's Fatah party announced a reconciliation agreement to end a Palestinian political rift that started when Hamas took over Gaza in June 2007 after routing forces loyal to Abbas who now rules the West Bank.

Under the agreement, which is opposed by Israel, Abbas would start discussions to form a unity government within five weeks and call for general elections six months after forming the new administration.

Hamas rejects US demand for recognising Israel

Gaza: The Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip Saturday condemned as intervening in internal affairs a US demand that the Palestinian government recognise Israel.

"Hamas does not rule out that the recent visit of the US National Security Adviser Susan Rice to Ramallah last week was meant to spoil the Palestinian national reconciliation," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a press release.

He called for accelerating efforts to implement the reconciliation agreement signed last month between his movement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, Xinhua reported citing the release.

During her meeting with Abbas Thursday, Rice reiterated the US's policy that any Palestinian government must unambiguously and explicitly be committed to non-violence, recognition of the state of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations between the two parties.

Abbas previously reiterated that the future unity government would stick to his policies of non-violence and recognising Israel.

Late in April, rival Palestinian Hamas movement and Abbas's Fatah party announced a reconciliation agreement to end a Palestinian political rift that started when Hamas took over Gaza in June 2007 after routing forces loyal to Abbas who now rules the West Bank.

Under the agreement, which is opposed by Israel, Abbas would start discussions to form a unity government within five weeks and call for general elections six months after forming the new administration.

Five members of a family commit suicide in capital

Thiruvananthapuram: Five members of a family have been found dead after consuming poison near  Kallayam in Thiruvananthapuram. 

The deceased have been identified as Manoharan, his wife Maheshwary, their sons Sanju and Biju and Biju's wife Krishnendu.

According to police heavy financial liabilities had forced the family to take the extreme step  Manoharan had a debt of about Rs 15 crore following investments in shares. 

The bodies of the victims have been shifted to Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.

Five members of a family commit suicide in capital

Thiruvananthapuram: Five members of a family have been found dead after consuming poison near  Kallayam in Thiruvananthapuram. 

The deceased have been identified as Manoharan, his wife Maheshwary, their sons Sanju and Biju and Biju's wife Krishnendu.

According to police heavy financial liabilities had forced the family to take the extreme step  Manoharan had a debt of about Rs 15 crore following investments in shares. 

The bodies of the victims have been shifted to Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.

Wife arrested for IAF officer’s murder

New Delhi: The 28-year-old wife of an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer has been arrested for strangling him with the help of her 17-year-old lover, police said on Saturday.

Sudha Chandra reportedly strangled 40-year-old sergeant Ramesh Chandra at their home in Subroto Park in south Delhi on April 10. 

She was assisted in the crime by her young lover, the son of another IAF officer living in the neighbourhood, a police officer said.

After committing the crime, the woman told the neighbours that her husband had suffered a heart attack. 

He was rushed to a military hospital where doctors declared him "brought dead". The family was issued a preliminary death certificate.

It was only when the post-mortem report came on May 1 that doctors realised that the officer had been strangled. 

A murder case was registered on May 6 and the woman was questioned. 

She first claimed innocence, but eventually confessed that she did kill her husband with the help of her lover, who has now been sent to a juvenile home.

The woman said her marital life -- the couple hailed from Uttar Pradesh and have a four-year-old daughter -- had been in a mess for about a year. 

She recently developed a relationship with the teenager who was a frequent visitor to their house.

When the husband stumbled on this, he took to drinking heavily, causing more strain in the marriage. 

It was then, a police officer said, that the woman decided to commit the murder. 

Wife arrested for IAF officer’s murder

New Delhi: The 28-year-old wife of an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer has been arrested for strangling him with the help of her 17-year-old lover, police said on Saturday.

Sudha Chandra reportedly strangled 40-year-old sergeant Ramesh Chandra at their home in Subroto Park in south Delhi on April 10. 

She was assisted in the crime by her young lover, the son of another IAF officer living in the neighbourhood, a police officer said.

After committing the crime, the woman told the neighbours that her husband had suffered a heart attack. 

He was rushed to a military hospital where doctors declared him "brought dead". The family was issued a preliminary death certificate.

It was only when the post-mortem report came on May 1 that doctors realised that the officer had been strangled. 

A murder case was registered on May 6 and the woman was questioned. 

She first claimed innocence, but eventually confessed that she did kill her husband with the help of her lover, who has now been sent to a juvenile home.

The woman said her marital life -- the couple hailed from Uttar Pradesh and have a four-year-old daughter -- had been in a mess for about a year. 

She recently developed a relationship with the teenager who was a frequent visitor to their house.

When the husband stumbled on this, he took to drinking heavily, causing more strain in the marriage. 

It was then, a police officer said, that the woman decided to commit the murder.