New Delhi, Oct 23 : Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday said that the rate of conviction in cases investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been consistently above 65 per cent.

Chavan in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha said CBI enjoys the thrust and confidence of public, judiciary and the Government and has been playing pivotal role in investigation of important cases.

The Constitutional Courts have in the last three years entrusted 512 cases for investigation, he added.

Chennai, Oct 23 : The activists of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) or Dalit Panthers Party in Chennai on Thursday blocked trains protesting against killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Activists of VCK, an ally of Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), raised slogans and said that they want to extend their support to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and other leaders against the alleged atrocities on Tamils in Sri Lanka.

"The protest has been held against the Central Government to take action in the Sri Lankan issue and so we blocked trains today. If our demands are not met by October

New Delhi, Oct 23 : BJP''s prime ministerial candidate and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, LK Advani, has initiated Track-II diplomacy with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajpaksa to save the lives of ethnic Tamils living in the island country.

Advani wants Tamils to be safe in Sri Lanka and also wants Rajpaksa to be pragmatic and fully understand Indian concerns over the issue, politicsparty. com reported.

Varanasi, Oct 23 : Dozens including women were injured when Samajwadi party activists demonstrating against Mayawati Government clashed with police here today.

Police baton charged and used water canons to disperse the party workers who were staging a demonstration.

Samajwadi party, which was dislodged from power in the state by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) during last elections, has been accusing Mayawati as "anti development."

As per reports, police asked party workers to be calm as they were raising slogans against Mayawati as part of their three-day statewide campaign.

New Delhi, Oct. 23 : Activists of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) today demonstrated before the Rail Bhawan here to voice concern against the frequent killing of elephants due to speeding trains along the tracks in or skirting forest areas.

PETA activists during their protest also enacted an accident in which ‘Bholu’, an elephant is fatally knocked down by a ''locomotive''. It was to highlight the pain of elephants being routinely killed by speeding trains in the forest areas, particularly in Assam and West Bengal.

Activists alleged that the Indian Railways has been the reason for the death of several Bholus in real life and the government should ensure preventive steps to protect the wild elephants.

New Delhi, Oct 23 : Riding on back of lower prices of food and non-food items inflation fell to 11.07 per cent for the week ended October 11, from 11.44 per cent a week ago.

The prices of fruits and vegetables and eggs declined during the week. And in the non-food category, sunflower and raw cotton became cheaper.

On account of lower prices of furnace oil the index of fuel group too declined marginally by 0.1 per cent.

During the week, the prices of other goods that declined were imported edible oil, oilcakes, polyester, staple fibre and ingots of lead and zinc.