New Delhi  - Suspected Maoist rebels gunned down a Hindu leader in the Kandhamal district of India's eastern Orissa state that saw weeks of bloody Hindu-Christian riots in 2008, news reports said Thursday.

A group of 15 to 20 armed Maoists killed Prabhat Panigrahi Wednesday night in Rudiguma village of communally-sensitive Kandhamal, about 200 kilometres west of state capital Bhubaneshwar, IANS news agency reported, citing police.

Panigrahi was a local leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindu hardline organization.

New Delhi - United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Leon Panetta held talks with Indian Home Minister P Chdiambaram Thursday on various issues including terrorism and the situation in neighbouring Pakistan, officials and news reports said.

Panetta is on his first overseas visit since being appointed head of the CIA by US President Barack Obama.

He is scheduled to leave for Pakistan later in the day.

Indian and US diplomatic officials described Panetta's meeting with the home minister as a courtesy call.

New Delhi, Mar 19 : The owner of the IPL franchise Bangalore Royals, Vijay Mallya, on Thursday backed the tournament to pass off smoothly.

Addressing reporters here, Mallya said India had all the resources required to provide security during the tournament.

New Delhi, Mar 19 : Nine-year-old Rubina Ali Qureshi and ten-year-old Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, who starred in the Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionare, met Congress President Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi today.

They were also accompanied by fashion designer Leena Singh.

The children are in the capital to participate in the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW). They are set to walk the ramp for designers Ashima and Leena Singh in the event.

New Delhi, Mar 19 : The Sikh community in national capital New Delhi took to streets on Thursday to protest the burning of a Sikh shrine in London.

Monday’s incident has left Sikhs across the world infuriated.

Protesters shouted slogans and brandished swords during the demonstration.

New Delhi, Mar 19 : The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has released its first list of 11 candidates for Madhya Pradesh and five candidates for Jammu and Kashmir for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The party will contest all 29 seats from Madhya Pradesh.

Meanwhile, former State BSP President Bhujbal Singh Ahirwar has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The BSP has also announced that the name for the Ladakh seat will be finalising later.