The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for an investigation into allegations that the Punjab police tortured Kulbir Singh Barapind after his arrest on charges of waging war on the state, possession of explosives, and sedition. The HRW said it highlights the widespread use of torture by Indian security forces.

HRW said Parliament should promptly enact the Prevention of Torture bill and take immediate steps to implement its provisions including ending all torture and ill-treatment by security forces, and prosecute those responsible.

Barapind was extradited to India by the US on murder charges after obtaining assurances from India that he would not be tortured. A court in India subsequently acquitted Barapind of all charges and released him in April 2008. This further spotlights the urgency for India to enact the Prevention of Torture bill, or this may prevent foreign extraditions to India.

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Aarthi Rao an NRI, has sought special police protection, saying Nithyananda is sending his aides, a group of unidentified men, to harass her and her family in Chennai. Mrs Rao says Nithyananda has been trying to kill her as she was to attend a court hearing in the city, a case that would decide Nithyananda's fate regarding a rape case.

Mrs Rao and her husband had joined Nithyananda's ashram in the US and later visited his ashram in Bangalore where she was allegedly raped by Nithyananda.

Nithyananda had filed a counter-complaint against Mrs Rao saying she played a crucial role in leaking a video that allegedly caught him and a south Indian actress in a compromising position.

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Speaking at a press conference held as part of World Health Day, Dr Hitesh Shah, an interventional cardiologist emphasised the need to have a different threshold level for Indians when measuring parameters like BP, waist size, cholesterol levels etc. whereas most laboratories continue to measure these parameters using western standards.

According to Shah elevated levels of lipoprotein a or LP(a) found in some 40% of Indians magnifies adverse consequences of tobacco, unhealthy foods and physical activity, thus a smoker or junk food addict is also genetically predisposed to high LP(a) levels and will be at greater risk of suffering heart disease.

Doctors in India say per research, Indians are genetically predisposed to high LP(a)s that include an increased risk of Coronary Artery Disease.

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Shine Thulasidharan 32, was sentenced to three years in prison in Abu Dhabi and payment of Dh.200,000 ($ 54,500) as 'diya' after he was implicated in the murder of Aslam Jalal Khan after a fight between Indians and Pakistanis at a labour camp.

Shine has however been languishing in prison after finishing his three year term because he was not able to pay the diya money accepted by the deceased's family.

Not any more however, as the UAE Red Crescent Society generously agreed to raise the money to pay the diya and get him freedom. His ageing mother who was key to the campaign to secure the release of her only son had approached the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry and the Indian embassy for the purpose.

The happy ex-convict expressed his gratitude to his family and friends and says he is going to return to Kerala and to his job as a tourist bus driver.

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Paresh Patel, 44, who went missing some days ago after he was kidnapped in Chesterfield, Virginia, has been found by police who confirmed that the body is his. His relatives feel that business rivalry could be the only reason behind Patel's abduction and murder.

Patel was originally a native of Amod in Anand district, and was kidnapped when he went to open his gas station early one morning. One witness said two men wearing dark clothing forced Patel into a van and sped away.

Patel did his Bachelors of Engineering from Rajkot before moving to the US some 20 years ago. His neighbours and customers described him as a gentleman. He is survived by wife Loma, son Jaykumar and daughter Khusbu.

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