Somalian pirates on Sunday released hijacked ship MT Stolt Valor.

According to preliminary reports all the members are released safely.

Now it’s a direct challenge to Orissa govt.

Thousands of Hindus have warned that they would observe Orissa bandh on coming Christmas Day if the state government failed to arrest the killers of the VHP leader by December 15.

Despite a heavy downpour on Saturday morning, more than 50 thousands of Hindus from across Orissa gathered in Bhubaneswar for a rally called by Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati Shradhanjali Samiti.

Former Union minister P Shiv Shankar on Saturday joined the Praja Rajyam Party of Chiranjeevi.

Soon after his joining, Shiv Shankar was made the head of Praja Rajyam's legal cell as well as the election manifesto committee.

"It's a matter of privilege for us to have a leader of Shiv Shanker's stature with us. He brings in enormous political experience which will guide us in the right direction," Chiranjeevi said while welcoming Shiv Shanker into the party.

Shiv Shanker had served as Governor of Kerala.

He was a close associate of Indira Gandhi and served as a minister in her cabinet. He also was a member of the cabinets under Rajiv Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao.

A group of Law students of Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College attempted to attack a Bahujan Samaj Party functionary in Chennai. This incident happened near the General Hospital. But the prompt action of the police stationed there helped him to safety.

BSP leader Rajappa of Pallavaram had gone to see a friend admitted in the hospital. But when the students marked the party flag on his vehicle they surrounded him. But the police stationed there acted first to rescue him.