Politics

Devotees throng banks of River Ganges to take holy dip to mark harvest festival

Varanasi/ Allahabad/ Chennai/ Guwahati, Jan 15 (ANI): Thousands of Hindu devotees on Thursday thronged to the banks of holy River Ganges to take a holy dip to mark harvest festival, 'Makar Sankranti'. The festival marks the arrival of spring. People from different parts of India came to Allahabad and Varanasi cities in Uttar Pradesh to take a dip in the River Ganges. The pilgrims camp by the riverside and in the evening they decorate the entire riverbank with earthen oil lamps. Security is tightened at the river banks to avoid any untoward incident. The festival marks the beginning of New Year and the holy bath absolves the devotees of all sins committed so far. People queued up before priests to perform the rituals and offer prayers. Meanwhile, people in Chennai too celebrated the harvest festival in the form of 'Pongal'.

Jan 15, 2015

Huge cache of arms and ammunition seized in Kashmir

Poonch, Jan 15 (ANI): In a joint operation with Special Operations Group (SOG), local police in Jammu and Kashmir seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from Surankote town. The security personnel carried out the operation based on consistent inputs received over a period of three to four days. They recovered several magazines of bullets, grenades, binoculars etc. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Surankote, Ajay Sharma said that the tip-off also informed the security forces about suspected militant movement in the region. The operation was halted mid-way due to poor weather conditions. The security forces are likely to restart their search once the weather clears up as more arms and ammunition are believed to be hidden. Sharma added that the recovery of ammunition in such large numbers indicated that attempts were being made to revive militancy in the region.

Jan 15, 2015

Sakshi Maharaj raises question over dead bodies found floating in River Ganges

Unnao, Jan 15 (ANI): BJP leader Sakshi Maharaj raised question over unidentified bodies found around a bank of River Ganges. Nearly 50 bodies were found in revered River Ganges in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. Dogs, crows and vultures dug into bodies as they had reached the bank due to low water level, posing major environment challenges in the areas under Unnao district. Maharaj visited the site where bodies were buried after they were recovered from the river bank. He said this matter should be investigated thoroughly to unearth the truth.

Jan 15, 2015

Service Chiefs pay tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti on Army Day

New Delhi, Jan 15 (ANI): The nation on Thursday is celebrating the Army Day. All three service chiefs participated in the celebration. Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Robin K Dhowan and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha paid tributes at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate this morning. The chiefs also lay floral wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti remembering the martyred soldiers and thereafter signed the record book at the India Gate. This was followed by Army Parade amidst intense fog. The service chiefs saluted the army during the parade. Army Day is observed on January 15 every year. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted the Indian Army on the occasion. Modi tweeted saying, "On Army Day I salute the indomitable courage and valour of our Army. We are extremely proud of their dedication and determination."

Jan 15, 2015