New Delhi  - Indian police arrested eight members of a banned Islamic group in connection with bombings in the western city of Ahmedabad that killed 56 people and injured more than 150 in July, news reports said Saturday.

The activists of the Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) were arrested in southern Kerala and Karnataka and western Gujarat and Maharashtra states, NDTV news channel reported quoting a police official in Ahmedabad.

New Delhi, Aug. 15 : Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday indirectly hinted that Manmohan Singh could be the UPA''s Prime Ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha elections.

"Why not, certainly", she said when asked by reporters at the AICC headquarters whether Singh would unfurl the national flag next year from Red Fort.

Lok Sabha elections are scheduled early next year.

"Hopefully," was Manmohan Singh''s reply.

New Delhi, Aug 15 : On the eve of Raksha Bandhan hundreds of people both men and women thronged the market places in Delhi, despite the closure of shops due to Independence Day.

Raksha Bandhan is a festival of Hindus which celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters on the full moon of month of Shravana, which is marked by tying of rakhi or holy thread on wrist of brothers, gift and sweets are also exchanged.

Women of all age groups were seen teeming in large numbers at Mehndi stalls, Rakhi stalls and sweet shops of various parts of Delhi.

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New Delhi, Aug. 15 : The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Friday condoled the death of school children in the bus tragedy that occurred in Dakshin Kannada district near Mangalore city yesterday.

He has sanctioned Rs. 1 lakh compensation to be given to the families of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to each of the injured. At least 11 persons, including eight children died after a bus in which they were travelling plunged into the Palguni River near Mangalore.

New Delhi, Aug 15 : Amidst impregnable security, the 62nd Independence Day celebrations across the country largely passed off peacefully on Friday.

In the wake of recent serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, elaborate security arrangements were made across the country.

Security forces were placed on high alert to prevent possible attacks from separatist militants and Maoist rebels. Extra security personnel were deployed in sensitive areas, especially in the capital.