January 18: Top news at 3 pm

Jodhpur court acquits Salman Khan of all charges in Arms Act case

Bollywood actor Salman Khan was on Wednesday acquitted of all charges in the Arms Act case against him in the alleged poaching of two black bucks 18 years ago in 1998. Chief Judicial Magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpuroti acquitted 51-year-old Salman, who along with his sister Alvira was present in the court. Besides the cases of poaching of endangered antelopes under Wildlife (Protection) Act, a case under sections 3/25 and 3/27 of the Arms Act was filed against Khan for allegedly keeping and using the fire arms with expired licence in the alleged poaching of blackbucks in Kankani near Jodhpur on October 1-2, 1998. Earlier, Salman’s counsel HM Saraswat had said: "We had argued in the court that there was no evidence that Khan was carrying fire arms either during his stay here or during alleged poaching. What he was found in possession with, were actually air guns."

West Bengal: Tension prevails at Bhangar, CM Mamata Banerjee reviews situation

Tension prevailed at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal on Wednesday, a day after one person was killed in crossfire between groups of outsiders and villagers. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have reviewed the situation at a meeting with top police officers. Villagers have put up barricades felling trees and piles of bricks on roads amidst unconfirmed reports of a second person dying in yesterday's crossfire. Police officials said properties at a police outpost were destroyed and a motorcycle was put on fire by agitating villagers this morning. Banerjee held a meeting with top police officers during the day to take a stock of the situation in which DGP Surajit Purakayasta was present among others.

Jallikattu ban: Madras HC declines to "interfere" on the issue of protests

While protests against the jallikattu ban reaches their peak, the Madras High Court on Wednesday said it will not "interfere" on the issue of protests in the city, holding that the Supreme Court was seized of the matter. The court made the observation when a mention was made by an advocate K Balu in the open court about the protests at the Marina on the Jallikattu issue. Balu brought to the court’s notice disconnection of power supply in the area when a "peaceful demonstration" was going on Tuesday evening. Besides, drinking water was not provided to protesters, he had complained. The first bench, comprising Chief Justice SK Kaul and Justice M Sundar, declined to "interfere in the matter at this stage."

Chinese New Year Celebration in New Delhi

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China will on Wednesday organise Chinese New Year celebration at Kamani auditorium in New Delhi. The event will be celebrated with performances by award-winning theatre group 'Xinjiang Art Theater Song and Dance Troupe' from China, while aiming to strengthen bilateral cultural cooperation between the two nations. "Chinese New Year is one of the most important traditional festivals in China and now is getting popular in many parts of the world. I believe the celebrations will make Indian people know more about the diversified and rich culture of China, thus further deepening cultural cooperation and exchange between our two great countries," Zhang Zhihong, Cultural Counsellor, Embassy of China in India said.

10th edition of Jaipur Literature festival to kick off tomorrow

The 10th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) is all set to kick off tomorrow with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, veteran lyricist Gulzar, American poet Anne Waldman and spiritual writer Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, inaugurating the five-day event. Arguably one of the largest literary festivals, this year’s JLF has been themed on "The Freedom to Dream: India at 70" and will see over 250 authors, thinkers, politicians and popular culture icons engaging in stimulating discussions and sessions at the historic Diggi Palace in Jaipur.