Lifetime validity now for TET certificate

New Delhi: The government has decided to extend the validity period of Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) qualifying certificate from seven years to lifetime with retrospective effect from 2011. — TNS

Mayawati sacks BSP’s UP Assembly leader

Lucknow: BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday sacked UP legislative party leader Lalji Verma and MLA Ram Achal Rajbhar for “anti-party activities” during the recent panchayat polls. Verma has been replaced in the House by Shah Alam, alias Guddu Jamali. — PTI

5 dead in another UP hooch tragedy

Aligarh (up): Five persons died and 22 more were hospitalised after consuming spurious liquor at a village here, days after another hooch tragedy resulted in the death of at least 35 in the district, police said on Thursday. On Wednesday night, some brick kiln labourers fell sick after consuming countrymade liquor dumped in a canal due to fear of raids, they said. — PTI

ED arrests RJD MP for money laundering

Lucknow: The ED said it had arrested RJD MP Amarendra Dhari Singh in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged fertiliser scam and payment of kickbacks to the tune of Rs 685 crore, officials said on Thursday. The CBI had recently registered an FIR against MDs of IFFCO and Indian Potash Ltd US Awasthi and PS Gahlaut, respectively. — PTI

Meghalaya MLA booked for rape

Shillong: An FIR has been lodged against ruling NPP MLA Thomas Sangma in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district after a woman accused him of rape on the pretext of marriage, a police officer said. The woman has sought protection from the state police. — PTI