Lucknow, Nov.

Kanpur, Nov. 12 : A prominent religious leader of Uttar Pradesh was arrested on Wednesday by anti-terror squad officials of Mumbai on suspicion that he had played a role in the Malegaon bomb blasts.

Dayanand Pandey was arrested in Kanpur and is being taken to Lucknow for further questioning, said Uttar Pradesh’s Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Brijlal.

Pandey reportedly heads a religious outfit in Jammu.

Varanasi, Nov 10 : Thousands of people offered special prayers in Varanasi on Sunday after the holy river Ganges got the status of country''s first national river.

Country''s Central government declared the river Ganges first national river on Tuesday with a separate authority to monitor its cleanliness.

Seers including head of the Jyotish and Dwaraka Pith Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand performed rituals amidst chanting of sacred hymns.

Swaroopanand expressed happiness over Government''s gesture, which would mean better and concerted efforts for cleaning the river battling pollution.