Cannon fatally explodes during salute - killing two

A 200-year-old cannon wheeled out by Indian villagers to greet a visiting minister exploded after being overstuffed with gunpowder, killing two men, a newspaper reported today.

Residents of Badoli village in western India's Rajasthan state had planned the gun salute on Tuesday evening to welcome Kirodi Lal Meena, a state minister, the Times of India reported.

The minister left immediately after the accident, which also injured six other people.

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Bihari 'Sardars'

The tenth and final Sikh teacher, Guru Gobind Singh, who was born in Bihar's capital Patna nearly 300 years ago, would have approved of this sociological trend in contemporary Punjab. Here is an interesting report how Bihari people are adorning the lifestyle of Sikhs in punjab state of India. Read more......................Punjab now a land of Bihari 'sardars'

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Travelling 60 kms to pay power bills

It may sound weird at a time when India is fast moving on the path of development, but the residents of a village in Rajasthan have to travel over 60 km just to pay their electricity bills.

The people of Sooeen village, about 430 km from state capital Jaipur in Rajasthan state of India, have to travel 60 km to Lunkarsar in Bikaner district just to pay their electricity bills.

'We are about 400-500 consumers and like others, we are given bills once every two months. We have to incur over Rs.100 just to travel to Lunkarsar to deposit our bills,' Bhawani Singh, a local resident. Read more........................Travelling 60 km to pay power bills

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Hindu pontiff to lose worshipping rights for overseas visits

Trips abroad may deprive a seer of the right to worship at the famous Krishna temple in Udupi town of Karnataka.

Sugunendra Thirtha Swami, the head of the Puthige mutt - one of the eight mutts that administer the temple by rotation - may not be allowed to worship Lord Krishna at the temple when his turn comes in January. Read more......................Overseas visits may deny Hindu pontiff worshipping rights

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30 million cases pending in Indian courts

Here is the state of affairs of judicial system in India.

As many as 37.1 lakh cases were pending in India's 21 high courts as of June 30,2007.

On the same day, 2.5 crore cases were pending in lower courts.

People spend a lifetime in courts. Cases often take more than a decade to be decided. The judges are overworked, the infrastructure is shabby and the judicial system is creaking at several levels, especially in subordinate courts. Judiciary — the one institution that still commands the people's respect — is straining to deliver justice. Read more...............................Timely justice at Re 1 per head per month

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Another elephant elopes

Mamata was roaming in a park in Uttaranchal when she met her ‘blind date’

A female elephant has gone missing from the Rajaji national park of Uttarakhand. Mamata was roaming in Chilla range of the park along with two other elephants yesterday when a wild tusker approached them. While the other two, Ragini and Radha, went back to their training camps, Mamata decided to follow her ‘date’ and is missing since then. Read more.........................Another elephant elopes

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Teen survives 4ft pole rammed through his head

Manish Rajpurohit has been hailed the luckiest teenager in India after he survived being skewered by a metal pole in a bus crash.

The 18-year-old student was riding a bus in Andhra Pradesh state when it was hit by a lorry.

The force of the smash rammed the four foot safety rail into Rajpurohit's forehead and through his skull - only missing his spine by a few millimetres. Read more & see pictures here.................Skewered: Indian teen survives 4ft pole rammed through his head

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Man enters Limca book of records for articles on himself

Seventy eight-year-old Abraham Puthussery, a former Congressman hailing from Cheranallur in Ernakulam in Kerala state of India, has made it to the Limca Book of national records for a collection of articles and photographs of himself published in various newspapers, since 1948. Read more...............78-year-old enters Limca book of records for articles on himself

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These shoes have 20-inch heels

Curious onlookers took photographs, inquisitive minds threw a few queries and everybody else lauded him. James Anthony Syiemiong's creation, a pair of 20-inch heels, was sure making him walk on air! Read more.......................These shoes give you a different high!

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Rs 40 lakh Sari

A Rs 40-lakh(100,000 US$) silk sari, intricately woven with 12 precious stones and metals and replicating 11 famous paintings of Raja Ravi Verma, will seek an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's most expensive sari. Read more.....................Rs 40 lakh sari seeks entry into Guinness

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Cops to arrest Students using Mobiles Phones

Twelve special police teams have been set up in Chennai state of India to keep watch on students who use mobile phones in schools despite the government’s ban.

The police had also warned that it would arrest those students who were found using camera mobiles on the school premises.Read more............No ring tones in schools, colleges

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Hair-raising experience for a Bald man

It was hair loss that prompted Kailash Kumar to opt for a costly wig made by an upmarket beauty clinic. But little did he expect that his bid to look smart with artificial hair worth Rs 9,000 would turn out to be a hair-raising experience. Read more................Man in Delhi duped by wig clinic

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Widow manages crematorium in Orissa

She is doing one of the most odd jobs that a woman would like to do. Yes, here is a widow from Orissa state's Sambalpur area who is compelled to arrange two square meals for her family after husband's death & has opted to be a keeper in a local crematorium here. Read full story here.............Widow manages crematorium in Orissa

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M.F. Husain again manic about Madhuri Dixit

Maqbool Fida Husain, popularly known as M.F.Husain, is one of India's best known artists. According to Forbes magazine, he has been called the "Picasso of India". His paintings are so popular that many of these paintings have fetched millions of dollars for each of his painting.

M.F. Hussain is mad about acting of bollywood star Madhuri Dixit is a well known fact. This 92 year old Painter was so entrenched with the dance movements of Madhuri Dixit in her film "Hum Aap Ke Hai Kaun", that he saw that movie 67 times & after that his name used to be called Madhuri. Fida. Hussain. Now here is another show of Hussain's infatuation with this actress from Bollywood.

Legendary Indian artist MF Husain, Madhuri Dixit's biggest fan, will welcome his muse back to Bollywood in style by booking an entire show for her latest film, Aaja Nachle, releasing in theatres in the UAE on November 29.

M.F. Hussain has reserved 194 seats for the 2pm show at Lamcy Cinema on the day for special guests from all walks of life, including members of the media.

The much-publicised film is Madhuri Dixit's Bollywood comeback vehicle. She had stopped signing films after her marriage to US-based surgeon Dr Sriram Nene. As per Husain, the movie tickets for Aaja Nachle would act as 'invites' and would have his autograph and a sketch of the Bollywood diva.

“I'll also be exhibiting paintings of Madhuri in the foyer of the theatre. I have made these paintings based on her great hits,” the artist revealed. “In fact, the paintings are a part of a series I have undertaken and will be exhibited sometime next year as my tribute to Bollywood, the biggest and greatest movie industry in the world.”

Husain is currently painting a series of huge panels that depict the glorious 100-year history of Indian cinema for the exhibition titled, 'From the Silver Silence of Dadasaheb Phalke to the Golden dazzle of Madhuri Dixit'.

“I think the Indian cinema is a great vehicle that can truly portray and carry the message of Indian culture,” said the nonagenarian artist.

Madhuri Dixit, who stormed her way into the hearts of millions in India and elsewhere with films like Tezaab, Beta and Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, is poised to win the hearts of her fans all over again in Aaja Nachle after a five-year hiatus.

Talking about his muse, whose blockbuster Hum Aapke Hain Kaun he claims to have seen 67 times, the artist says, “She is the quintessence of classical Indian beauty and womanhood. I want others to enjoy the film with me. It's a tribute to not only her beauty, but also her talent as an actress.”

The artist thinks that her kind of beauty is rare. Who should know better than Husain, with a discerning eye for all that is aesthetic, and an avowed worshipper of feminine beauty?

“Why me, even Ashok Kumar, the doyen of Indian cinema once said that in his 60 years of being in films, he had yet to come across someone like her — someone with her talent, grace and looks,” gushed Husain.

When contacted, Madhuri Dixit, the actress who can light up the screen with her million dollar smile said, “I am overwhelmed by his gesture of booking a theatre for my comeback film. I feel very flattered indeed!”

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Man gambles his Wife away

In historic Indian epic "Mahabharata" Pandavas lost their wife Draupdi in gamble. Now a man in a Bihar village staked his wife to another villager after he lost his money, land and possessions in gambling.

Umashankar Choudhary of Chaksaid village in Vaishali district gambled his wife, Sunanina Devi, to Manoj Singh of the same village. Read more.......................Man gambles wife in Bihar village

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Drive Carefully on Indian roads

On Indian roads all are advised to drive carefully. Just see how lethal Indian roads are, reveals these official figures. As per a report nearly 280 people die in road accidents every day in India. That comes out to be a death every 5 minutes on Indian roads. Read more..............280 die in Indian road accidents every day

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Woman bites Cop

A woman attacked police officials and bit one of them when they had gone to arrest her on Saturday night without a lady personnel, for allegedly selling illicit liquor at Vaniyambadi district in Tamil Nadu state of India. Read full story.................................Woman attacks police, bites one

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A Suitable Cockroach

'A Suitable Cockroach', it is the name of the Shekhar Kapur's next film.............Read more...................Elizabeth director inspired by cockroaches tale

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‘Don’t kill babies, abandon them’

That’s what the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandak Committee, Sikhism’s highest temporal body, is telling the people of Punjab whose record in killing female babies —born and unborn — is the worst in India. The SGPC is now asking gurdwaras to keep cradles where parents can deposit their unwanted female babies instead of killing them.....................Read full story................‘Don’t kill babies, abandon them’

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Women power

In western countries it may be common but in India, yes it's uncommon....................All-girl staff at petrol pump, restaurant in Jharkhand

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In matters of marriage take your father in confidence

Wanna planning to get married, be sure to take your father into confidence otherwise it may happen to you too!!!!!!!!.........Father declares son dead for marrying against his wishes

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He brews tea - and stories - at his stall

Pouring endless cups of tea for customers, Laxman Rao looks like any other tea vendor on a busy road of the capital. But looks can be deceptive and Rao proves that. This tea vendor has authored 18 books till date! Read full story here...........................He brews tea - and stories - at his stall

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Sachin Tendulkar, Astrology & his missing 90s

Sachin Tendulkar the great Indian Cricketer is a really unlucky man when it comes to completing his centuries. In ODIs, he has got out in the 90s as many as 16 times and in Tests seven times.

He has 78 centuries to his credit -- 41 in ODIs and 37 in Tests, and the 23 missed ones would have taken his tally to 101. Unbelievably, he has fallen in the 90s seven times this year.

Asked about these surprise failures, Tendulkar laughingly disclosed a solution offered by his son. " My son told me why don't you hit a six when on 94".

Now the well known astrologer Bejan Daruwala has suggested him a four-step therapy that includes cooking burgers to get rid of his problem of missing centuries.

It’s well known amongst the astrology community that Sachin Tendulkar is a Taurus and that numbers 3, 6 and 9 apply to him.

But according to Chinese astrology, Tendulkar is also a Buffalo, a cousin of the bull — and these two systems combined make him a Double Bull.

Now here is the most interesting thing that Bejan Daruwala has to say,

"Because he is a loving and faithful husband, to get out of his nervous 90s, I would suggest that Tendulkar follow four steps":

1.Sleep in the lap of his wife and tell her to love him sweetly and gently

2. Cook his own mutton cheese burgers and eat them

3. Have a terrific bath

4. Jump in his Ferrari and go for a drive

The above things will help him in automatically releasing his nervous energy. As Ganesha means Mars, I would suggest he chants the mantra ‘Om Gan Ganpataye Namaha’ on Tuesdays (it’s the day of Mars).

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Garland of Grenades

Rahul Gandhi the son of Rajiv Gandhi & Sonia Gandhi seems to be in the hit list of militants / terrorist. Garlanding of Rahul Gandhi with grenades before kidnapping him to put up their demands was the ‘plan’ of the three Jaish-e-Mohammed militants nabbed in Uttar Pradesh last week, interrogation of them has revealed, official sources said.

The detailed interrogation of Mohammed Abid, Yusuf and Mirza Rashid, arrested in Lucknow last week, by personnel of the Central security agencies, revealed that they would have garlanded the young Rahul with grenades before taking him hostage.

They were planning to later put forward their demands of release of some of their men from Indian jails including Mohammed Afzal, condemned prisoner in the 2001 Parliament attack, the sources said. Read more..............‘Ultras aimed to garland Rahul with grenades’

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20,000 to Wed in Delhi

The mad, mad, mad marriage season began in Delhi on Wednesday with 20,000 weddings scheduled for the next few days - and with them endless traffic snarls, deafening fireworks, booming loudspeakers and baraat processions galore.

'Roughly 20,000 couples will tie the knot between Nov 21 and Dec 3. Around 5,000 couples tied the nuptial knot Wednesday - the auspicious day when god Vishnu and goddess Tulsi got married,' said Lakshman Prasad, a well-known city priest.20,000 tie the knot - and Delhi is in a bind....................Read more..............20,000 tie the knot - and Delhi is in a bind

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Electric shocks as sleeping pill for priest

It may seem bizarre but believe it or not, a priest in Uttar Pradesh' Lalitpur District has developed a bizarre liking for electric shocks. He cannot do without his daily dose for a sound sleep.

Baba Mangal Das, the priest of Ram Janaki temple at Bamhorisar village in Lalitpur District of Uttar Pradesh state of India is addicted to this weird habit for three years. And, he strangely claims to have never faced any adverse effect.

"At night, I plug this wire in and place a live wire either inside my mouth, ears or under my armpit to sleep well. Without having electric shocks, I turn restless. I have been doing it for the past three to four years," a priest Ram Janaki temple, Bamhorisar.

The 52-year-old priest is said to have been fond of opium, smack and marijuana. His craving for intoxication remained unquenched until he experienced electric shock on touching one end of an electrified iron rod in 2004.

Mangal Das loves getting his dose of thrills from a kitchen-heater's coils while it is switched on. Over it, he places one end of a rod and takes the other end to his tongue.

"I used to dope a lot. I used to have marijuana but slowly it stopped intoxicating me. I started getting electric shocks to satisfy my craving," said Mangal Das.

Read more...........Electric shocks as sleeping pill for Uttar Pradesh priest

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Govt buys over 5 lakh rat tails

In Mizoram state of India, state government in an effort to encourage farmers to kill rats and contribute in lessening the rodent population, has begun purchasing 5,23,165 rat tails.

Lawngtlai District Agriculture office has collected 1,20,219 rat tails and Aizawl district has purchased and burnt 1,01,674 rodent tails while only 15,207 rat tails have been collected from Mizoram-Myanmar border Champhai district which had experienced destruction of crops, especially paddy by rats since last year.

Read more................Mizo govt buys over 5 lakh rat tails

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4 more Elephants electrocuted

In Shillong four elephants were electrocuted at Umdoh village near Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi district on Monday. Of the four, three were female adults and one male calf. This is the second such incident that took place this year. Last month six elephants died in a village in West Garo hills due to electrocution taking the total number of pachyderm death to 10 in Meghalaya. Read more..................4 more tuskers electrocuted

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Cops dog ‘buffalo thieves’ for 34 years

In India it is not uncommon that legal court cases go on for years together & earlier we have known of a story in which a case is still going against a person for stealing a pair of oxen for 33 years. Now here is a case of the Punjab Police, who since 1973, have been pursuing a case of buffalo theft till three months ago when the two accused, natives of a village near Jalandhar, were sent behind bars. But it was also not correct & the Punjab and Haryana High Court came to the rescue of the two after it discovered that the stolen cattle had been traced the same year.

Earlier, the police had taken the plea that the two buffaloes were never recovered and the challan was yet to be presented to ensure that the trial court dismissed the bail of the two accused, Mohan Singh and Jodha Singh.

The case dates back to February 9, 1973 when the police booked the two residents of Malsihan village on charges of theft after a resident of Dhakha complained that two of her buffaloes had gone missing. A man said he had seen Mohan Singh and Jodha Singh with the buffaloes.

But when the police party reached the spot, the two fled, following which they were declared proclaimed offenders. The duo was finally arrested from a petrol pump three months ago and sent to the Ludhiana Central Jail.

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Incestuous marriage declared null and void

In yesterday's post Father marries daughter, a man married his teenage daughter in Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal state of India. But as per Times of India, leading Islamic seminary "Darul Uloom Deoband" has declared the marriage of the man with his teenaged daughter in West Bengal as null and void and ruled that the girl's impregnation by her father will be treated as rape and the culprits will be punishable under the Shariat laws.

As per BBC, Earlier his angry neighbours in Kasiajhiora village nearly lynched him for what they said was a clear case of incest. "We didn't know she was married so when we confronted his wife, she told us about the bizarre marriage six months ago," Sheikh Ramzan, a village leader at Kasiajhiora, said.

"We wanted to smash his head, we were so angry."

Yet more Strange is the explanation given by the mother of the girl justifying the act of his husband.

"He is a deeply religious man and will never lie in the name of Allah," Sakina told a court in the northern district of Jalpaiguri.

"I agreed to his marriage with our eldest daughter when he invoked divine sanction," she said.

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82-year-old gets licence to drive

In Mumbai City there is no upper age limit for procuring a driving licence, though the minimum age is 18. Recently one 82 years old man Lekhraj Sharma gave a driving test at the Andheri RTO & got a licence to drive. The officials were skeptical on noticing that he was 82 years old, but his physical agility and mature driving skills won them over. "I don't plan to take the car out on busy roads and there is no question of me being drunk at the wheel," says Sharma.

The city's three RTO offices are coming across more cases like Sharma's.

"The number of elders obtaining driving licences may be 1 to 2% of the total number of licence-seekers, but it is a significant number considering that earlier we never had them coming to us," says an RTO official at Tardeo.Read more..............82-year-old gets licence to drive

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Father marries daughter

In a bizzare incident a 37-year-old man married his teenage daughter in Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal state of India, justifying his perverse act by claiming he had divine sanction for his incestuous lust. What's even more galling is that his wife was the prime witness in the nikah of her daughter to her husband. Read more................Father weds daughter in North Bengal

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World's Hottest Chili to Control Elephants

World's Hottest Chili "Bhut jolokia" also known as the "Ghost chili" shall be used as a tool to repel elephants in Assam state of India. Wildlife experts in northeastern India are experimenting with this weapon to prevent marauding elephants from destroying homes and crops and trampling people in villages close to their habitat.

Conservationists working on the experimental project in Assam state said they have put up jute fences smeared with automobile grease and "Bhut jolokia" certified as the world's hottest chili by the Guinness Book of World Records. They also were using smoke bombs made from the chili to keep elephants out. Read more.................World's Hottest Chili to Repel Elephants

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Video - The Taj Mahal - Wonder of the World

Here is a Video which is a Tribute to beauty - The Taj Mahal, one of the beautiful wonder of world. Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan during 1630 to 1653 at Agra in the State of Uttar Pradesh of India. It's a monument of love & It's a celebration of woman built in marble.

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Cops to shed weight through Dancing

In punjab state of India the weight-shedding 'Bhangra' dance (Punjabi dance) exercise technique successfully adopted by the Bathinda police will be replicated for the entire state to make cops fitter and healthier.

Director general of police N P S Aulakh has asked Bathinda district police chief Naunihal Singh to make a presentation on the initiative to get police personnel into shape through exercises that also include a 'Bhangra-dance' drill.

Singh, a young Indian Police Service officer posted at Bathinda, a south Punjab district, introduced the unique exercise regime for fat, overweight and pot-bellied policemen recently. Read more...................Punjab police to shed weight through Bhangra

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World record-breaking puja performed in Jaipur

Over 5,000 people, including 3,510 priests, participated in a massive 'bhumi puja'(Ground breaking ceremony for a new project) for a condo homes project in Jaipur in Rajasthan state of India, simultaneously breaking the ground with shovels, to set a Guinness world record for such an event.

Kim Lacey from Guinness World Records, who had flown down from London to adjudicate, witnessed the event. 'This is truly amazing. I have never seen such an event before. Yes, it has certainly set a world record,' she said. Read more.....................World record-breaking puja performed in Jaipur

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Cop takes Paternity leave

Here is an IPS officer from Mumbai, India's Financial capital, whose job is to protect VIPs in Mumbai. But, at home, Vinay Kargaonkar is playing the role of Daddy Cool, changing diapers and cleaning baby poop.

Kargaonkar, a 1990-batch IPS officer, has become the first Mumbai cop to go on paternity leave; he has been on a month-long leave since October 19 to be with his wife who has delivered their second baby. Read more..............In a first, Mumbai cop takes paternity leave

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India curbs tourist dollars

In an interesting move Indian authorities have ruled that tourists visiting the country's monuments must pay at a fixed local rupee rate rather than in dollars.

Entrance to many local tourist sites is priced in dollars and then converted to rupees, causing authorities to lose money as the dollar slid more than 12 per cent against the rupee.

The Ministry of Culture said that the latest move was "to avoid any anomaly on account of falling exchange rates of dollar vis-a-vis rupee and consequent fall in revenues".

The government had fixed a $5 entrance fee for World Heritage sites like the Taj Mahal and $2 for other monuments at a time when the dollar was worth about 50 rupees.

The dollar is now worth around 39 rupees. The new rate for World Heritage Sites is fixed at 250 rupees ($6.50).

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Woman's head stuck between sliding doors of a lift - dies

NEW DELHI: In a bizarre incident, a young woman was killed when her head got crushed between the sliding doors of an elevator at an upmarket Greater Kailash food-store here on Sunday. Read more................Woman dies in lift

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Man dumps daughters

Dharika, aged 7 and Pooja, aged 5, were playing in the compound of Sardarnagar police station in Ahmedabad city in Gujarat state of India because their father had deserted them in a train bound for Nandurbar, Maharashtra.

The girls were left to their fate by their father Vipul Doshi, a worker in Arvind Mills. Their mother had already divorced Doshi and left the girls in his care. Read more............Ahmedabad man dumps daughters

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Man killed for not paying Rs 2

In Ahmedabad city in Gujarat state of India, a man Prakash Nadiya lost his life just for Two rupees (US 5 Cents). A resident of Kalapinagar in Meghaninagar, Nadiya lost his life as a result of his brother not paying two rupees at a bootlegger’s liquor den in Patni ni chali a couple of days back. Read more...............Man killed for not paying Rs 2

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One farmer’s suicide every 30 minutes

On average, one Indian farmer committed suicide every 32 minutes between 1997 and 2005. Since 2002, that has become one suicide every 30 minutes.Read full story here................One farmer’s suicide every 30 minutes

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Paris Hilton & binge-drinking Elephants

What is common between binge-drinking elephants & socialite Paris Hilton? Yes, Paris Hilton, had been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol & in India pachyderms get drunk on farmers' homemade rice beer & then go on a rampage.

Conservationists on Tuesday hailed socialite Paris Hilton, who has been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, for apparently trying to highlight the cause of binge-drinking elephants in northeastern India.

Activists said a celebrity endorsement was sure to raise awareness of the plight of the pachyderms that get drunk on farmers' homemade rice beer then go on a rampage. Last month, six wild elephants that broke into a farm in the state of Meghalaya were electrocuted after discovering and drinking the potent brew then uprooting an electricity pole.

"There would have been more casualties if the villagers hadn't chased them away. And four elephants died in a similar way three years ago. It is just so sad," Hilton was quoted as saying in Tokyo last week.

"The elephants get drunk all the time. It is becoming really dangerous. We need to stop making alcohol available to them," she said in a report posted on the World Entertainment News Network Web site. Read more.............Conservationists hail Paris Hilton's efforts to save binge drinking elephants

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Going on the Haj at age 105

MUMBAI:Sunati Habbibullah, 105, was among the first batch of 170 Haj pilgrims to leave from Maharashtra on Monday by an Air India flight bound for Jeddah.

Habbibullah is travelling with her son and daughter-in-law.

The pilgrims came from different districts of Vidarbha, said Minister of Waqf Anis Ahmed, after he saw them off.

Over 2,000 pilgrims from Vidarbha and neighbouring Chhattisgarh are expected to fly to Jeddah this year from Nagpur.

The first direct Nagpur-Jeddah special Haj flight was started in 2003.

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Elopement Marriages -'Gandharva Vivah'

People in Himachal Pradesh state of India are known for keeping alive many traditions that find mention in ancient indian scriptures. "Gandharva Vivah", mentioned in epic Mahabharata, exists here in the form of an elopement marriage.

The custom has it that the young couples eager to perform "Gandharva Vivah" are expected to elope and, later, settle for a proper marriage as per traditional rituals.

In Kullu's Gramang Village, the prospective brides and bridegrooms have the liberty to choose their life partners of their choice. Following the custom, the lovers elope and on return to their homes, they are married off as per the local rituals in the presence of their Village deity.

"It has been going on since the times of the 'Pandavas' (victorious clan in the legendary Mahabharata war). We bring the girls here after running off with them and marry them. This is our tradition and everyone celebrates it with great zeal and enthusiasm," said Arun Kumar, a resident.

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Monkey menace & Priyanka Gandhi

As per a report Monkey hurts 25 in East Delhi, last week a monkey attacked the residents of Shastri Park in east Delhi injuring at least 25 people through the night and then fleeing away.

Thank God, Marauding monkey was ultimately caught in Delhi . As per the report:

"The marauding simian was caught from Shastri Park area with the help of a monkey-catcher. It will be released in Asola area soon."

But it seems the monkey after release is troubling Priyanka Gandhi, daughter of Sonia Gandhi , so Monkey menace now reaches Priyanka house . Anybody out there to help Priyanka Gandhi!!!!!!!

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Lecturer arrested for throwing acid on student

In Andhra Pradesh state of India a lecturer who threw acid at a girl student for rejecting his marriage proposal was arrested last week, police said. Ch. Damodaram, who teaches in a private college in Visakhapatnam, threw acid on K. Kalpana, 19, in Palasa town in Srikakulam district.

Damodaram, who was absconding and had taken shelter at his friend's house in Visakhapatnam, was arrested and brought to Palasa. He was produced before a magistrate, who asked police to produce him in the court. The accused was later shifted to sub-jail. Read more..............Lecturer arrested for throwing acid on student

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Man marries dog

(P. Selvakumar, left, places a garland on a sari-draped former stray female dog named Selvi , during a marriage ceremony in Manamadurai, 470 kilometers (494 miles) south of Chennai, India, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007. Selvakumar married a female dog in a traditional Hindu ceremony as an attempt to atone for stoning two other dogs to death, an act he believes cursed him, a newspaper reported Tuesday.)

Picture Credit:(AP Photo/Dinamalar)

In southern India a 33-year-old man in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu has married a dog in a bid to ward off the "curse" of a canine couple he had killed 15 years ago.

Selva Kumar tied a 'mangal sutra' on the animal, named Selvi, at a Ganesh temple in Manamadurai, about 50 km from Madurai on Sunday.

The 10-year-old saree-clad "bride" was brought to the temple in a grand bridal procession. After the function, the bride was feasted with bread.

Kumar, who vowed to protect Selvi all through its life, said he married the animal as per the advice of an astrologer.

"I will take care of it till its death."

According to him, he had clubbed to death a dog-couple when they were mating and hung them on a tree when he was 18-years old.

After that incident, he suffered a stroke, he could not move his left arm and legs and turned deaf, Kumar said.

"I am able to walk only with the help of a stick, he said.

Kumar claimed that the astrologer had told him that he had the "curse of dogs" after having a simple glance on him.

The astrologer advised him that all his problems would be solved once he did the penance by marrying a bitch, Kumar said.

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Man fights tigress using a bicycle

NAGPUR: Ever heard of a man putting up a fight against a tiger.

This 21st century 'Tarzan' put up a brave face by using his bicycle as a shield to save himself from a tigress that attacked him on Monday evening near Mangrud village, 12 km from Sonapur.

According to official sources, the victim, Balaji Vithoba Kohde (35) was on his way to Mangrud from Talodi on his bicycle when he was attacked by the animal at 4.45 pm near a water canal. Read more.........Man fights tigress using a bicycle

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A bride married twice in one night!

For a bride in Jharkhand state of India, it was a tale of two marriages and a divorce in one night - and all for the colour of a motorbike.

Farhana was married to Riyaz Ansari on Nov 8 in Ormanjhi block of Ranchi, 35 km from the state headquarters.

After the marriage, Riyaz and his father Aalimuddin Ansari, residents of Ramgarh district, desired to see the bike gifted as dowry.

Riyaz got angry when he found a black Hero Honda bike. He had demanded a red-coloured Bajaj Discover. The bride's family tried hard to pacify him, but an angry Riyaz divorced his new bride.

The shocked villagers beat up the bridegroom and his father and handed them over to police.

The parents and villagers were very disappointed over the development.

Then, Yasin Ansari, who had come as 'barati' (member of groom's party), offered to marry Farhana, which the girl's family accepted with happiness. Farhana was married to Yasin.

The police at the initiative of the village elders released Riyaz and his father.

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Python dies after having swallowed goat

At Vellore in Tamil Nadu state of India a 12-feet-long python has died after having swallowed a 15-kg weighing goat at Rangampettai village in Pernamput, 70 kms from here.

According to forest officials, the python which had strayed out of the nearby forest in search of food on Friday, swallowed a goat which was grazing along the forest fringes.

The python, unable to digest its huge catch, was seen lying still for almost 24 hours with a bloated stomach.

The forest officials who reached the village on Saturday after coming to know about it, saw a dead python. Officials said they could even feel the legs and horns of the goat inside the snake's stomach.

The python was later buried by the forest personnel.

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Talking HIV/AIDS through fun games

New Delhi, India: A 'Bunti Aur Babli' visual trick game, a 'jadoo' photograph that changes colour and a chaupal dice game -- these are all part of a massive initiative to inculcate awareness about HIV/AIDS among villagers in a fun way. And it is showing results.

The initiative, launched by the central government's National Literacy Mission in tandem with the Unesco, involves tactful weaving in of facts on HIV/AIDS and women's empowerment through games during adult literacy classes in rural areas. Read more....
Talking HIV/AIDS through fun games

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Man kills priest while aiming at pig

BANGALORE: A temple priest was shot dead in Hoskote police limits on Saturday morning. The police said the priest was accidentally shot by his landlord, who was aiming at a pig. Read full story................Man aims at pig, but kills priest

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'Mentally ill' woman chained for 3 yrs

BHUBANESWAR/BALASORE: A voluntary organisation rescued a 30-year-old woman who was chained for the past three years by her family at Jidtal village in Balasore district. Her family claimed she was "mentally unstable". Read full story...........'Mentally ill' woman chained for 3 yrs

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Court to decide, Cremation or burial?

In West Bengal State of India, a 70-year-old woman's body has been lying in a Kolkata morgue for the past one week as her children have approached the Calcutta High Court to decide whether she should be buried or cremated.

A Hindu by birth, Pari Mallik, a resident of Chhoto Mallikpara in Howrah, had married a Muslim after the death of her first husband -- a Hindu.

Pari died on Oct 30 and her children from her first marriage want her last rites to be performed according to Hindu rituals while her second husband and daughter want a burial, local reports said.

Both the families have now approached the Calcutta High Court seeking to perform her last rites according to their own religious practices.

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Diwalis forever together for these twins

AMRITSAR: Mohna and Sohna are inseparable—they are conjoined twins who can’t be surgically separated because they share vital organs.

Mohna and Sohna, which means special in Punjabi, were born to a taxi driver and his wife in 2003. The couple abandoned the children and their home now is an orphanage in Amritsar.

Four years down the line they are the orphanage’s brightest spark, spoilt and love having every one at their beck and call.

“Doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi saw the children and told us that they are inoperable.

If surgery is ever tried not only will one of them will die but the other one can’t live because of the shared organs,” says Dr Inderjeet Kaur, of the Pingalwara Charitable Society, which runs the orphanage.

The children go to school in the morning and long rides on their pram in the evening. When one wants to be free of the other they have devised their own method of making their way around the complex.

They keep the orphanage’s officials on their toes and behave like individuals on their own right.

“One is quiet and the other is not. One loves to go out and the other likes being inside. Some times they fight with each other but they are joint in the shoulder so they have to accommodate one another,” says their caretaker Kanwaljit Kaur

Kanwaljit says Mohna and Sohna love Diwali—the lights lend a sparkle to their eyes and the sisters smile at each other and enjoy the crackers from a safe distance.

Mohna and Sohna are too young to realise that they will never be independent each other but till they grow up they are loving this united life.

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When killers come with gift boxes

Beware of strangers who come to your house bearing Diwali gifts or other gifts. A woman in Mumbai who opened the door to unknown persons carrying a gift box was murdered and robbed of cash and valuables worth Rs 4 lakh. The incident occurred at the Vasai residence of Maniben Bhanushali (50). The assailants have not been identified. Read more.........Now, killers come with gift boxes

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Woman strangulates daughters to death

In a gruesome incident, a woman strangulated her two daughters at Naya Mhowgaon under Bargonda police station of Mhow tehsil, 21 kms from Indore in Madhya Pradesh state of India and surrendered herself at Mhow sub-jail.

A woman identified as Shahnaz Bi (28), wife of Nadim Ahmad, a resident of Naya Mhow Gaon, arrived at Mhow sub-jail asking the jail cops to hang her as she had killed her two daughters. For a moment, the jail cops were taken aback and could not believe her but later informed about the matter to Bargonda police. Read more........Woman strangulates daughters to death

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Marriage party held captive & assaulted

Villagers, infuriated over a dowry demand by the father of two grooms getting married to two sisters here, held the marriage party captive and fired at police which intervened, killing a constable and injuring six others. Read more........Villagers assault barat over dowry demand, kill policeman

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Woman buried and dug up alive in Himachal village

A woman who insisted her followers bury her alive has been dug out alive hours after the incident by the police in a Himachal Pradesh village.

Sapna Kumari, 18, in Chamba valley's Khalani village some 450 km from here, had been claiming she was the snake goddess being worshipped by villagers for the past three months.

Villagers had been visiting her in large numbers to seek her blessings. She insisted they bury her alive (samaadhi) in a deep pit as hundreds -- including media persons -- watched.

A few hours later a police team led by Chamba police chief S.R. Rana dug out the woman and found her alive. They took her to a hospital.

'She was found to be in good health, but showed signs of hysteria,' the doctor who examined the young woman, Ashish Sharma, said.

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Teenage fan clings on to actor's car for 40 km!!!!!!

West Bengal - India :A 19-year-old boy clung on to the rear of popular Bengali actor Subhashis Chattopadhyay's car and travelled for more than 40 km just to express his immense desire to become an actor.

The incident occurred late Sunday night under Taldanga police station area in West Bengal's Bankura district when Swarup Barik of Khichka village clung on to the exhaust pipe of the actor's car, local reports said.

Though Barik sustained burn injuries on the way, he never gave up with the hope of realising his dream of becoming an actor. Read more.........Teenage fan clings on to actor's car for 40 km

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Indian girl born with 4 arms and 4 legs undergoes surgery

Revered by some in her village as the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess,Laxmi, a 2-year-old girl born with four arms and four legs has undergone surgery to live her with a normal body.

The girl named Lakshmi is joined to a "parasitic twin" that stopped developing in the mother's womb. The surviving fetus absorbed the limbs, kidneys and other body parts of the undeveloped fetus.

A team of 30 doctors removed the extra limbs and organs, surgery that is successful & would give her a good chance to live past adolescence. Read more......Indian girl born with 4 arms and 4 legs undergoes surgery

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Youth stones brother to death

A 20-year-old man, frustrated and angry with his family, allegedly stoned his eight-year-old brother to death near their home in southwest Delhi, police said.

'The accused, Sonu, in his interrogation confessed that after his marriage five months ago, he was not given due care and affection by other family members. He started feeling lonely and dejected,' Deputy Commissioner of Police Shalini Singh said. Read more...........Youth stones brother to death in Delhi

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Poor kids to feast on 'tallest' sandwich

A resort at Kovalam in Kerala state of India claims, it has broken the existing record for the tallest sandwich.

The current title is held by O'Brien's Irish Sandwich Bar for a 42-foot-tall sandwich made in 2003.

"A tourist brought over 25 poor children and the sandwich will be eaten soon," said Raja Gopal Iyer, director of the resort. Read more.........Poor kids to feast on 'tallest' sandwich

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Man murders wife, then falls asleep

BANGALORE: The police have arrested Govindraj (38), a plumber, for killing his wife Sampangamma (32). A resident of Motappanapalya, Govindraj stabbed Sampangamma.

A quarrel broke out between the couple and an inebriated Govindraju stabbed Sampangamma with a kitchen knife. He then fell asleep in a drunken stupor. Read more........Man murders wife, then falls asleep

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Lecturer throws acid on student

A lecturer who threw acid at a girl student for rejecting his marriage proposal was arrested from an Andhra Pradesh town in India.

Ch. Damodaram, who teaches in a private college in Visakhapatnam, threw acid on K. Kalpana, 19, in Palasa town in Srikakulam district. Read more....Lecturer arrested for throwing acid on student

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Arm raised over his head for two decades.

“Hindu holy man Baba Hath Khada — last seen at the Ardh Kumbh mela in Allahabad, India — has kept one arm raised over his head for nearly two decades. Why we don’t know.”

Here is this holy man in India, doing a seemingly strange thing which may look "weird" to many.

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Pulling Maruti van with Moustache

This man's moustaches are so strong that he can pull a Van (small car truck) with his moustaches. Yes, a man in Orissa state of India has claimed that he pulled a Maruti van for a kilometre - with his winding moustache.

As thousands watched in Balasore town, about 200 km from here, Siba Prasad Mallik, 34, said he dragged the van after tying the two ends of his moustache to the vehicle Thursday.

'I did this to see my name registered in a record book,' he said.

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Advance booking for Crematorium

In the city of Nagpur in Maharashtra State of India Municipal Corporation which controls the crematoriums is introducing an advance booking system for cremations.

As per the scheme, interested parties shall have to make a call for reservation for the platform where corpses are burnt for a three-hour duration, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Atul Patne said.

The phone call will ensure a proper platform at a select crematorium of your choice and the civic body will allocate shops for supply of fuel and firewood for cremations, Patne said. Read more...............Now advance booking for crematorium in Nagpur

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His name is Mr (A -1+ 5)

Here is an artiste from Mumbai formerly known as Prince, who changed his name to Aminusone Plusfive (A-1+5) two years ago. His earlier name was Jawed Shaikh Nawab.

As per him the seemingly random numerals have a deep significance, explains the 45-year-old. On April 1, 2005, the man formerly known as Nawab opened a restaurant and called it A-1+5 Snack and Juice Centre, after the date on which it began operations. The minus and plus signs were included because as Mr Plusfive says, "Our life is full of minuses and pluses. When we sleep at night, we are as good as dead and when we wake up a new day unfolds and new additions are made." Read more..........Meet Mr (A-1+5) from Mumbai

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Maoist ideologue in jail swallows SIM card

In Chhattisgarh state of India, when Police recovered a mobile phone from the possession of Narayan Sanyal, the highest-ranking Maoist ideologue lodged in Bilaspur Central Prison, he swallowed the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card of the mobile in an attempt to destroy the evidence.

Mobile Phone was recovered from Sanyal’s possession after a surprise check by the prison authorities, following a tip off.

“As the raid began, Sanyal took out the SIM and swallowed it and hid the handset in his undergarments,” the Inspector-General said. Read more at Indian Express...........Chhattisgarh: Naxal leader in jail swallows SIM card

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Buy tea from post offices

In Uttar Pradesh state of India, now you shall be able to buy tea, recharge card, pay bill, exchange soiled notes, insurance and loans at your nearest post-office.

"On offer is a vibrant basket of services as we have a robust network with 17,568 post-offices and presence in Uttar Pradesh since 1879. So today we have both the manpower (57,658) and network to sell any viable product," said Abha Singh, director, postal services, Uttar Pradesh. Read more........Now, buy tea from post offices

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Woman Tonsured & Paraded

In India's Bihar state, a 58-year-old woman was allegedly paraded with her head tonsured at Hardayalpur village under the Mokama police station.

Her Crime: her son fell in love and subsequently married an upper caste girl belonging to a financially well-off family. Read more.........Woman tonsured for son's 'fault'

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World Toilet Summit opens in New Delhi

World Toilet Summit has opened in New Delhi. It includes such ideas as a solar-powered commode that runs without water, the 2007 World Toilet Summit is no bathroom novelty show.

Participants at New Delhi's four-day gathering of experts, toilet aficionados, and even royalty from 44 countries are grappling with health and sanitation issues that endanger almost one-third of the world's people who don't have toilets.

The United Nations estimates there are some 2.6 billion people without access to basic sanitation, over half living in India and China.

In India there are 700 million people who do not have access to safe and hygienic toilets. Is it the same India where economy is growing at 9-10% every year????

Read more.........World Toilet Summit gets down to business in New Delhi

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Goon-turned MLA bashes TV reporters

Meet Anant Singh who is a Janata Dal (U) legislator in Bihar State of India & is having several crimes under his belt.

As per TV reports, Singh and his musclemen roughed up three media reporters after holding them hostage for a few hours. Two reporters and a cameraman were injured in the assault that left them with serious cuts and bruises including a few broken bones.

Prakash Singh and Habib Ali, who work for a private news channel, had gone to Singh's house seeking his reaction on the murder of a girl who had alleged sexual exploitation by him.

The MLA has been arrested. The two journalists who were held hostage by Singh and beaten with rifle butts and lathis.

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'Cuisine Tourism' in Indian Kitchens

In India, Indian kitchen is nowadays turning into a center for "Cuisine Tourism".

Quoting about $20-50 per person per meal, Indian kitchens across cities are fast becoming business centres that are redefining cuisine tourism. For their part, hosts are going all out - taking tourists to the vegetable market, handing them out the rolling pin to make chapatis and teaching them the right mix of spices for curries - to ensure that cuisine tourism tempts the world to their kitchens. Read more..........Indian kitchens turning into a hub for cuisine tourism

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Opium Served at Indian National Party 'BJP' Luncheon

BJP is the Oppostion Party in Indian Parliamnet. As per media reports, it is alleged that in a special lunch thrown by Jaswant Singh (BJP leader) for BJP dissidents in Barmer in Rajasthan state of India, opium was served.

The Vasundhara Raje government is studiously silent but the congress has demanded an enquiry into this opium row.

Opium was served in Kesar Milk which is a welcoming tradition in this part of the state.

If true the minimum punishment for the offence is of ten years in jail under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act...........Read more at NDTV..........Opium servings at BJP luncheon

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Farmers take to horse breeding as alternative source of income

Farmers in Punjab in India are taking to horse breeding as an alternative source of income.

Farmers in south-west Punjab have adopted horse breeding as an allied profession.

The fertile soil and green pastures give Punjab a natural advantage to breed racehorses cheaply. Read more..........Punjab farmers take to horse breeding as alternative source of income

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