Man kills mother for not serving lunch
Bhubaneswar: A man killed his mother for not serving him lunch on time in Odisha’s Khurda district by smashing her head with a stone, police said Saturday. The incident occurred Friday in Rayat Patna village, about 30 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, inspector-in-charge of Balipatna police station Surendra Kumar Bala told IANS. Surendra Behera alias Sauria, 35, wanted his 60-year-old mother Lalita to offer him lunch on time and he became furious when he did not get it, Bala said. Behera picked up a big stone and smashed it on the head of his mother twice, Bala said, adding that the woman died on the spot. The man was later arrested on a complaint lodged by his elder brother. (IANS)
Modi launches membership drive on his website
New Delhi: Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi has launched a membership drive on his official website asking people, in particular the youth, to connect with him on his Facebook and Google plus accounts. “The people of India can take this nation to greater heights and make it the leading nation of the world…the people, particularly the youth should devote their time, skills and energy towards the nation,” said the introduction of the “movement” which aims at creating “a strong, glorious and inclusive India”.
Each person who signs up is being asked his area of interest and qualifications, and a personal acknowledgement is also being issued. Modi’s message on the website narendramodi.in said: “I want to be an agent of change for Ek Bharat, Shresht Bharat.” (IANS)
Kedarnath Yatra hit by landslides
Dehradun: The Kedarnath Yatra in Uttarakhand was halted on Saturday after landslides in Rudraprayag blocked the route that leads to the pilgrimage site, officials said. The landslides, triggered by incessant rain, blocked the Tilwada-Guptkashi route. No one was injured but the state government halted the trip owing to the inclement weather conditions in the area. “Any further movement in the area is fraught with risk and we do not want (to take) any chances till the weather clears,” an official told. All pilgrims en route to the famous seat of Lord Shiva have been stopped at Sonprayag. The Kedarnath Yatra was similarly hit by poor weather conditions 10 days back. The state government said that adequate arrangements were in place to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. Thousands were killed in June last year when flash floods hit the Char Dham Yatra. (IANS)
ABVP activists vandalise seminar venue in Patna
Patna: Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Saturday ransacked the venue of a seminar here, which was organised to discuss the arrest of a Delhi University professor for his alleged links with Maoists. Shouting slogans like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’, over three dozen ABVP activists forcibly entered the seminar room and damaged property. The seminar was organised at A. N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies to discuss the arrest of G. N. Saibaba, a professor at Ram Lal Anand College in Delhi. He was arrested May 9 by Maharashtra Police in Delhi for his alleged links with Maoists. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said a case was lodged in this connection and police would take action against those involved in the vandalism. ABVP activists said they staged the protest because there was no need to hold any discussion on the arrest of Saibaba. (IANS)
2 people lynched in Simdega
Simdega: Two persons who were allegedly trying to create panic on the basis of arms and sharp edged weapon were lynched by the villagers at Kersai police station area of this district late on Friday night. Police said that deceased identified as Padmal Manjhi and Soman Manjhi residents of Karwarjor and Karaijora village reached to the house of one Durga Baitha were a marraige function was organised. ‘Both tried to create panic and threaten people present in the function by their arms and sharp edged weapon following which villagers lynched them’, police said adding that a pistol, a knife and nine live cartridges were recovered from the possession of the deceased. Superintendent of Police Asim Vikrant Minj said that two separate FIRs each from both the sides would be lodged including deceased family and matter would be investigated properly. (UNI)
Kerala offers customised trips to tourists
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Tourism is wooing tourists by offering them a chance to create a customised trip plan at economical rates. Tourists will have to log on to the tourism department’s web portal and create the preferred itinerary. Traditionally dubbed ‘off-season’ during the months of April-May, followed by the monsoon, the department has asked prospective tourists to log on to www.keralatourism.org/dreamdeals to create one’s preferred visit plan. It will then be automatically forwarded to five accredited tour operators in the state who will then get back to the tourists with the best rates. Kerala Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar said that the response has been encouraging. “This is also because June is peak summer and school holiday time in North India, where rains are rare. Tourists from there would be particularly tempted to sense the cooler climes of Kerala till end of August,” Kumar added. Tourism Secretary Suman Billa said: “The lean season has yet another advantage with discounts on hospitality expenses and the charges will be lower by around 30 percent”. (IANS)
Clash in UP village over bursting of fire crackers
Lucknow: Clashes took place in an Uttar Pradesh village following an argument over bursting of fire crackers during a marriage ceremony, police said Saturday. The clashes erupted Friday night in Pratapgarh district’s Gajadharpur village, police officials told IANS. Members of a community objected to the bursting of fire crackers leading to a brawl. It turned ugly and stones were pelted from both the sides. The members of the two sides also attacked each other with weapons, police said. More security deployment was made in the village after the incident, an official said. Some people sustained minor injuries, he said. (IANS)