Eight Indian women have died and 20 others are in a critical condition after having sterilisation surgery under a free government-run programme to help slow population growth.

Indian Maoist rebels have killed 14 people in two separate attacks as they continue a campaign of violence aimed at disrupting a five-week national election.

A leopard sparked panic in a north Indian city when it strayed inside a hospital, a cinema and an apartment block before evading captors, an official said.

Two men have been arrested for allegedly killing a seven-year-old girl and cutting out her liver in a ritual sacrifice to ensure a better harvest, police in central India say.

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Indian girl was murdered in a tribal sacrifice and her liver offered to the gods to improve crop growth, police in the central state of Chhattisgarh said yesterday.

Maoist rebels launched a series of devastating ambushes on Indian troops today killing at least 75 in the deadliest strike against the government in their 43-year insurgency.

Rescue operations are continuing at a power plant in India after a chimney collapsed killing more than 30 people and trapping many others.

Eleven police officers were killed when their vehicle went over a land mine planted by suspected Maoist rebels in eastern India.

THE first day of polling in India’s general election was disrupted by Maoist violence that left at least 17 people dead.

The first day of polling in India’s general election was disrupted by Maoist-led violence that left at least 17 people dead.

Nearly 300 communist rebels and their supporters escaped in a daring jailbreak today in eastern India, police said.

Doctors separated 10-month-old conjoined twin boys in a hospital in central India today, a news report said.

Police are investigating a letter allegedly written by Maoist rebels threatening to kill two of India’s top cricketers because they represent the “elite class,” a newspaper reported today.

Suspected Maoist militants triggered an explosion near a truck jammed with passengers today in central India, killing 23 people.

India’s ruling Hindu nationalist party wrested control of three of four state legislatures in elections seen as a strong indicator for the country’s parliamentary ballot next year.

INDIA’S ruling Hindu nationalist party wrested control from the opposition in three of four state legislatures, according to election results yesterday.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Hindu nationalist party today won unexpected victories over the incumbent Congress party in three state elections.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Hindu nationalist party today won unexpected victories over the incumbent Congress party in three state elections.