New Delhi, Apr 22: Hundreds of school children formed a human chain here on Wednesday to spread awareness amongst people about the importance of voting.

The event was organised with the sole aim of soliciting responsible participation from the citizens in the ongoing elections.

Eminent personalities present during the occasion included Saba Karim, the veteran Indian cricketer, Manjit Dua, table tennis player, Madhumita Bhist, the badminton player and singer Malini Awasthi.

New Delhi - Maoist militants seized a passenger train in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand and took hundreds of passengers hostage Wednesday, one day before the second phase of India's month-long general elections.

The approximately 700 passengers on board the train were unhurt, the NDTV news channel reported, citing railway authorities.

Maoist fighters took over the train early Wednesday in Latehar district, they said.

Pilibhit, Apr 22: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi will file his nomination papers from Pilibhit today.

Varun, who is on a two-week parole after being jailed under the National Securities Act (NSA) for his alleged hate speech, will be accompanied by his mother Maneka Gandhi.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday turned down the request made by Varun for transfer of Pilibhit District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police.

The EC also rejected Varun's appeal to appoint neutral observers in his constituency.

India's leading Health & Wellness Company Hamdard is aiming to increase its product portfolio as the company targets to become a Rs 500-crore company by 2010-11.

The company, which produces brands like Rooh Afja, Rogan Badam and Safi, has around 600 formulations in the market under the three segments of OTC, consumer and traditional.

Chennai, Apr 21: Marumalarchi Drav

New Delhi, Apr. 21: Major General UC Dubey (retired) has passed away on Tuesday.

General Dubey was amongst the first batch to join the Rashtriya Indian Military College in 1922.

He was amongst the three cadets selected for commissioned officers training at Royal Military College, Sandhurst (UK).

Taking over the Command of 2nd Dogra, he led the battalion into Kashmir valley to successfully fight against the Pakistani marauders in November 1947.