NEW DELHI - An animal welfare group headed by member of parliament Maneka Gandhi Saturday alleged that a group of butchers opened fire on its team that had stopped 10 trucks attempting to smuggle cows in east Delhi’s Madhu Vihar area late Friday night.

Murder accused IIT student sent to judicial custody

SHIMLA - A student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Roorkee was sent to 14 days judicial remand Saturday for allegedly murdering a woman IIT-Delhi student at a hotel here, police said.

Ashram management blamed for Uttar Pradesh stampede

LUCKNOW - The preliminary report of a probe into Thursday’s stampede in Uttar Pradesh has held the management of the ashram responsible for the disaster in which 63 people, mostly women and children, were killed, officials said Saturday.

Cuban filmmakers express support to quake-hit Chile

HAVANA - Cuban filmmakers have expressed support and solidarity to their Chilean counterparts in the wake of a devastating earthquake that killed hundreds of people and left millions homeless in that country, Prensa Latina reported Saturday.

IAF official’s wife, two daughters found dead

SHILLONG - An Indian Air Force (IAF) official’s wife and two minor daughters were found dead at their residence in the Eastern Air Command cantonment here, officials said Saturday.

Probe launched into Delhi drowning deaths

NEW DELHI - Families of four boys who drowned in a watery pit here in darkness prepared for the last rites Saturday, as authorities ordered a probe into alleged negligence by the city’s water board.

Compensation for families of boys who drowned (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI - Amid protests from relatives of the four boys who drowned in a flooded pit here, the Delhi government Saturday ordered compensation of Rs.100,000 each for the families of the deceased.

Mentally challenged man climbs atop Howrah Bridge

KOLKATA - A mentally challenged man Saturday climbed atop the Howrah Bridge, blocking traffic into the city for more than four hours as a huge crowd gathered at the spot, officials said.

Narcotics worth Rs.27 million seized

MUMBAI - The Mumbai Police Saturday seized drugs worth Rs.27 million here and arrested 16 people in this connection, an official of the anti-narcotics cell said.

Boy kills aunt, thinking she is a witch

RAIPUR - A teenager killed his 55-year-old aunt Saturday in a village near Chhattisgarh capital Raipur because he suspected her of practising witchcraft, police said.

Chile says quake toll is 452

SANTIAGO - Chile updated the official death toll to 452 victims from the Feb 27 quake that struck near the country’s second-largest city, Concepcion.

Probe ordered into damage of vehicles by policemen

CHANDIGARH - The Chandigarh Police have ordered an inquiry into reports that policemen damaged nearly 125 private vehicles during a protest rally of the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) here.

Fake Viagra made of bird droppings, warns scientist

WELLINGTON - The main ingredient in fake Viagra seized by New Zealand customs officers was guano - bat and bird droppings - a newspaper reported Saturday.

Spread awareness to avoid hooch tragedies: Court

NEW DELHI - In order to prevent the deaths of people by consuming spurious liquor, the Delhi High Court asked the Delhi Police to spread awareness amongst the public by wide publicity and arranging street plays.

Indian child may not be victim of random attack: Report (Lead, changing dateline)

MELBOURNE - Australian investigators probing the death of a three-year-old Indian child in Melbourne are leaning away from the theory that he was the victim of a random attack, a media report said Saturday.

Huge cash, jewellery haul from criminal

BHUBANESWAR - A man allegedly involved in several cases of murder, extortion and illegal mining was arrested Saturday in Orissa’s mineral-rich Keonjhar district and a huge amount of cash, including some foreign currency, was seized from him, police said.

Manipur advocate general shot at

IMPHAL - Manipur Advocate General N. Koteshor was critically injured Saturday when he was shot at while returning from a function, with the bullet piercing his chest, police said.

‘Godman’ kidnaps woman disciple

GHAZIABAD - A 40-year-old self-styled godman allegedly kidnapped a 27-year-old disciple from her house here last month, police said Saturday.

Now, a \’godman\’ kidnaps woman

GHAZIABAD - A 40-year-old self-styled godman allegedly kidnapped a 27-year-old disciple from her house here last month, police said Saturday.

Woman official among two held for accepting bribe

SHIMLA - Two people, including a woman excise taxation officer, were arrested in Himachal Pradesh Saturday while accepting a bribe, police said.

Australians call for calm over Indian boy’s death

SYDNEY - Melbourne police Saturday urged the Indian community not to jump to conclusions over the death of a three-year-old Indian boy whose body was found in a Melbourne street six hours after he went missing from his home.

Drugs worth crores seized in Mumbai

MUMBAI - The Mumbai police have seized over one ton of narcotics worth several crore rupees in the open market and arrested 19 people, including three foreigners, police said Saturday.

Bishnoi seeks judicial probe into police ‘atrocities’ (Second Lead)

CHANDIGARH - Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) chief Kuldeep Bishnoi Saturday demanded a judicial probe into reports that policemen damaged over 100 private vehicles during a protest rally of his party here Friday.

IAF officer’s wife, two daughters found dead

SHILLONG - An Indian Air Force (IAF) officer’s wife and two minor daughters were found dead at their residence in the Eastern Air Command headquarters here, officials said Saturday.

Photo journalist killed in Orissa road accident

BHUBANESWAR - A 35-year-old photo journalist was killed when the car in which he was traveling hit a roadside tree in Puri district, police said Sunday.

National helpline for safety of tourists in offing

PANAJI - A national helpline is on the anvil to address the safety and security concerns of tourists in the country, central Tourism Minister Kumari Selja announced here Saturday.

Inter-state gang of vehicle thieves busted, five held

MOHALI - An inter-state gang of vehicle thieves was busted with the arrest of five people and recovery of five cars, including a SUV, from their possession, police said Saturday.

Two poachers held with leopard skins in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW - Two poachers, who operated in several states of the country, have been arrested with leopard skins in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district, police said Saturday.

Chileans undaunted by earthquake’s destruction: Ban

SANTIAGO - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised Chileans for their “courage and resilience” in the face of last week’s massive earthquake, as he arrived in the Chilean capital to offer UN.

Politician shot dead in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Gunmen Saturday shot dead a leader of the main opposition political party in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, Xinhua reported.

No bluffing: Gunmen steal jackpot at German tourney

BERLIN - Masked gunmen burst into a five-star Berlin hotel Saturday and made off with the proceeds of Germany’s biggest poker tournament that was taking place there, police said.

After 18 years as hostage, woman releases first video

SAN FRANCISCO - Jaycee Dugard, who was kidnapped as an 11-year-old and held in captivity for 18 years, released her first home video Friday, appearing in a Christmas kitchen scene with her mother and half sister and thanking the public for its support.

Take action against cop selling Hockey World Cup tickets illegally: Kalmadi

NEW DELHI - Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi Saturday demanded action against policeman caught on camera selling Hockey World Cup tickets in the black.

Ashram blamed for Uttar Pradesh stampede

LUCKNOW - A preliminary probe into the Uttar Pradesh stampede has blamed the ashram management for the disaster that killed 63 people, mostly women and children, officials said Saturday.

Chile begins vaccinations, emphasizes health threats a week after deadly quake

Snow job: Economists’ estimates that snow would cost 100K or more jobs miss mark

Donations from Americans for Haiti earthquake relief pass $1 billion mark

Ohio jury convicts doctor of wife’s 2005 cyanide poisoning death

15 injured in pileup on foggy highway in Wisconsin; nearly 40 vehicles involved in crash

The torrents of spring: Folks in the Upper Midwest brace for severe flooding _ again

Billions raised for Haiti relief leaving needs unmet, fostering criticism from all sides