CBI to probe murder

• KOCHI: Kerala High Court has ordered a CBI probe into the recent murder of a Youth Congress functionary in Kannur, observing that there should be an impartial and independent investigation. The CPM-led state government had opposed a CBI probe into the murder of Shuhaib, for which several people linked to the Left party had been arrested. The court also felt that an alleged conspiracy in the case should be investigated. PTI

Khap 'special cell'

• NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to direct states to set up a "special cell in every district" to probe complaints of threats and intimidation related to inter-caste and inter-faith marriages and honour killings of couples. The suggestions were made by the Centre through additional solicitor-general Pinky Anand, on a PIL filed by an NGO, Shakti Vahini, in 2010.

Mallya yacht held

• LONDON: A luxury super yacht owned by liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya has been seized in Europe this week over unpaid wages to its crew. The 95-metre vessel named Indian Empress was "arrested" in Malta as part of attempts to recover over $330,000 in unpaid wages and other costs. PTI

ATM theft

• MUZAFFARNAGAR: A man posing as an engineer allegedly stole more than Rs 18 lakh from an ATM of Indian Overseas Bank in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh, police said on Wednesday. The impostor had entered the bank's "strong room" for repairs, cracked the password and removed the cash, the police said. PTI

Farm long march

• NASHIK: Nearly 25,000 farmers have set out on a 180km "long march" from Nashik to Mumbai to press for various demands, including a complete loan waiver. PTI

Rape in field

• BANDA (UP): A woman was allegedly raped in a village in Attara here by a youth, police said on Wednesday. The accused, Sushil Kori, 26, was absconding. The incident took place on March 4 when the woman, 38, was in her field. PTI

Mumbai local train losses

• NEW DELHI: The Centre has informed Parliament that the railways have incurred a loss of more than Rs 4,000 crore in the past three years in running local trains in Mumbai. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, minister of state for railways Raen Gohain said since 2014-2017, railways had incurred a loss of Rs 4280.50 crore by running the suburban rail network in Mumbai. "In the last three years, while the total earnings was Rs 5,206.16 crore, the expenditure was Rs 9,486.66 crore and the loss was of Rs 4,280.50 crore," Gohain said. PTI

Gutkha stick

• MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government will make the sale of gutkha, which is banned in the state, a non-bailable offence and the jail term will be enhanced to three years from six months. PTI

Statue height

• MUMBAI: The Opposition Congress and the NCP have alleged that the Maharashtra government has reduced the height of a statue of Shivaji to be erected off Mumbai coast. But the government said the statue would remain 210 metres tall as was planned. PTI

Hacked to death

• PUDUCHERRY: A five-member gang allegedly hacked a 55-year-old man to death near the government hospital here, police said on Monday. The victim was said to be a member of the ruling Congress. Maran, an owner-cum-driver of an ambulance, had returned to Puducherry from Chennai on Tuesday night. The gang members allegedly killed him when he went to a nearby tea shop, police said.PTI

Cops in bribe net

• JAIPUR: A sub-inspector and a constable were arrested on Wednesday by the Alwar district anti-corruption bureau while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh. The alleged bribe-giver wanted the police to file a final report in a case against his uncle, sources said. PTI

Heroin arrest

• JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir police have arrested a youth after a chase for allegedly possessing three grams of heroin here. PTI