Hardline Kashm-iri separatist leader and chairman of his faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani was released on Saturday, three days after the police arrested him from his residence claiming he posed a serious threat to public peace.

AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, in his bid to boost the organisational strength of the Congress in state, will kickstart a hectic three-day Bengal mission tour on September 14.

The ruling JD(U) and BJP are likely to initiate their talks on swapping of seats for the Bihar Assembly elections in the coming week. Senior JD(U) leaders have stated that the talks would be concluded without any hiccup much before nominations are filed for the first phase of the elections in the state.

Despite leaders of the BJP and the JMM confidently assuring stability of the new coalition government under Arjun Munda and its dedication for Jharkhand’s speedy development, the Opposition parties in the state are unconvinced about the new government’s longevity and professed good intentions.

The police has arrested an electrical engineer for allegedly stealing ATM-cum-debit cards which he later used to shop with his girlfriend at a south Delhi market.
A senior police official said, the accused, Ramji Prabhakar, who was working with a leading mobile phone operator, had allegedly devised a method of hoodwinking innocent shoppers.

One more person died of dengue taking the toll to five this season. The total number of dengue cases in the city reached 1,716 as 64 fresh cases were reported on Saturday.

Intensifying war of words with the ruling CPI(M) in poll-bound West Bengal, the Congress on Friday came whole hog in support of young leader Rahul Gandhi’s comment relating to “two Bengals”, as it said, the situation in rural Bengal was “pathetic” and could easily be verified by travelling in the country side of the state.

Young Congress MP from Amethi Rahul Gandhi has become member of the parliamentary standing committee on human resource development, which is headed senior party leader Oscar Fernandes.

Asian Institute of Medical Sciences on Friday launched the Grameen Swasthya Pariyojana, a “Good Health” initiative to benefit the rural population.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr N.K. Pandey, chairman and MD, AIMS, said the programme has been conceptualised to “ensure that the best available healthcare services reach the rural and underprivileged sections.”

A youth was allegedly stabbed by a gardner in Rashtrapati Bhavan, the police said on Friday. The victim, Kishan, 19, was stabbed by Gopal, a gardener on contract in Rashtra-pati Bhavan, on September 1 when they were consuming liquor near Gate No. 17.