Wednesday, July 8, 1998
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Contest
likely for LS Dy Speakership NEW DELHI, July 7 — Efforts to evolve a consensus for the post of Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha appears to have run into rough weather with the BJP claiming the post for itself and the Congress stressing that it could agree on a non-BJP candidate from the Opposition... CPM, Trinamool Cong MPs
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'No
reports of Chinese spy station' NEW DELHI, July 7 — The government today said there were no reports of installation of a Chinese surveillance station on the country’s border. This was stated by Defence Minister George Fernandes in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha...
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Non-cereal
diet, not hunger strike NEW DELHI, July 7 — The much publicised fast of the BJP vice president, Mr K.L. Sharma, which created a flutter in the ruling party, turned out to be a damp squib with Mr Sharma explaining today that “it is not a protest but a step for public good”... ‘Codify Shariah to stop divorce’ NEW DELHI, July 7 — With divorce, desertions and polygamy giving sleepless nights to Muslim women, social activists have suggested voluntary reforms and a codification of Shariah or the Muslim personal law, to address these problems... Indo-British ties at low ebb NEW DELHI, July 7 — The Indo-British relations have been at the lowest ebb in the recent times with New Delhi consciously avoiding London in its dialogue with the key interlocutors on the international nuclear regime after Pokhran II... 'Take up' pilgrims' problems with Pak NEW DELHI, July 7 — Parliament’s Standing Committee on External Affairs has asked the government to take up “at the earliest” with Pakistan the issue of considerable difficulties faced by Indian pilgrims to obtain visas to visit Nankana Saheb and Punja Saheb in that country... Railways rapped for cost overruns NEW DELHI, July 7 — A parliamentary committee has rapped the Railway Ministry for undertaking new projects every year without having sufficient funds resulting in huge cost and time overruns and asked it to evolve a clear-cut policy to select new projects to be completed in a fixed time frame... President, PM greet people on Id NEW DELHI, July 7 — The President, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister today greeted people on the occasion of Milad-Ul-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, and asked them to follow his teachings of truth and brotherhood... Bhatnagar is Plan panel Adviser NEW DELHI, July 7 — The government today announced five senior-level appointments with Mr Arun Bhatnagar, Additional Secretary in the Department of Telecom, being elevated as Adviser in the Planning Commission in the rank and pay scale of Secretary... Women ask Shourie to apologise NEW DELHI, July 7 — Leading women’s organisations today termed as “crude comments” journalist-turned-politician Arun Shourie’s remarks on women in an article recently and demanded a public apology...  |
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| Contest likely for LS Deputy Speakership Tribune News Service NEW DELHI, July 7 — Efforts to evolve a consensus for the post of Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha appears to have run into rough weather with the BJP claiming the post for itself and the Congress stressing that it could agree on a non-BJP candidate from the Opposition. While the ruling BJP today stated that it was trying to evolve unanimity in its favour in the selection of the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker since it was the largest single entity in the House, the Congress said though the post had traditionally been going to the Opposition it could agree on some one who was not from the ruling coalition benches. The BJP Vice-President, Mr K.L.Sharma, said here today that the party had agreed to leave the Deputy Chairmanship of the Rajya Sabha for Mrs Najma Heptullah on the ground that the Congress was the single largest party in the council of states. “Keeping up with the healthy traditions of both houses,we want that the Deputy Speakership should go to the BJP”, he asserted. Asked who would be the BJP candidate for the above post, Mr Sharma said “talks are going on and once they (Congress) agree to the BJP’s candidate,we will announce the name of our candidate”. “So far no dates have been fixed for the election of the Deputy Speaker, but it will be finalised during the current session”, Mr Sharma said. Sources said the BJP was keen to have the election of the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker only after the union budget had been passed by the House of the People. The leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Mr Sharad Pawar, told newspersons that the Congress would prefer a non- BJP candidate for the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker. When asked whether the Congress would field a candidate in case a contest took place, Mr Pawar said “We will prefer the ruling party offering the post to the Opposition”. Sources said the Congress had been seriously thinking of fielding former Union Minister, P.M. Sayeed for the post. Meanwhile, Dr Heptullah of the Congress is almost certain to get another term as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson. Her’s was the only nomination filed till the deadline for close of nominations at 3 p.m. today. The formal election will be held on July 9. |
| 'No reports of Chinese spy station' NEW DELHI, july 7 (PTI) — The government today said there were no reports of installation of a Chinese surveillance station on the country’s border. This was stated by Defence Minister George Fernandes in a written reply to a question by Mr Vayalar Ravi in the Rajya Sabha. Replying to another question, Mr Fernandes said the Chinese Navy had a larger number of destroyers/frigates, submarines and other ships compared to the Indian Navy. He said the government was taking adequate steps by acquiring and indigenously building more number of warships and submarines subject to availability of financial resources. Trishul: The Defence Minister said further developmental flights of naval version of Trishul missile were planned during next three months before it enters users trial phase. The missile would enhance Indian Navy’s defence capability against adversary aircraft and sea-skimming anti-ship missiles. The test-flight of Trishul on June 3, obtained valuable information on the integrated performance of Trishul in naval user configuration. Missing: The Defence Minister said about 29 officers and 1701 other ranks were reported missing and presumed killed in the Indo-China war in 1962. LoC: There has been an increase in exchange of artillery and mortar fire along the Line of Control in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir due to Pakistan’s efforts to give covering fire to the infiltrators, Mr Fernandes said. The government was also aware of Pakistan having airlifted artillery guns to Pak-occupied Kashmir opposite the Machhal-Gurez sector. NSC: The minister said the date of reconstitution of National Security Council will depend on the decision of the government on the recommendations of the task force. The government keeps under review all developments having a bearing on the country’s security, including the creation of an effective detterent against the use or threat of use of weapons of mass destruction against India. |
| CPM, Trinamool Cong MPs clash NEW DELHI, July 7 (PTI) — CPM and Trinamool Congress members today clashed in the Lok Sabha following a remark by Mr Basudeb Acharia that the sending of an official team by the Vajpayee Government to West Bengal to assess the law and order situation was “unwarranted, unconstitutional and uncalled for.” As soon as Mr Acharia of the CPM made the remark during zero hour, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee and her party colleagues were on their feet shouting that the team was rightly sent to the state by the Centre. In the midst of din, she had heated exchanges with Mr Acharia and other Left party members. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Naik pleaded with the Chair that Ms Banerjee was the leader of her party and she should be allowed to have her say if she wanted to react to Mr Acharia’s statement. Mr P.M. Sayeed, who was in the Chair, ruled that 46 members had given notices for participation during zero hour and if other members were allowed, those on the list might be deprived of the opportunity to speak. He repeatedly pleaded with members to maintain order. RJD leader Laloo Prasad Yadav wanted to know from the government why similar teams had not been sent to BJP-ruled UP and Rajasthan where the law and order situation was “worse.” Stating that the West Bangal Government had sent reports before and after the panchayat poll to the Centre, Mr Acharia said that Centre had no right to depute a team to the state to assess the law and order situation. The Sarkaria Commission in its recommendations had clearly said that the Centre had no right to interfere in the law and order situation of a state, he asserted. The Chief Minister, Mr Jyoti Basu, has written a letter to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to immediately convene a meeting of the inter-state council, he said, adding that Home Minister L.K. Advani was “misquoting” Article 355 of the Constitution to say that it was the duty of the Centre under that article to oversee whethr there was proper governance is states. He wanted to know why the Centre chose only West Bengal and Bihar for assessment of the law and order situation by official teams. Trinamool Congress members resumed their seats after the prsiding officer told them that they would be given a chance to speak later. Ms Mamta Banerjee demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged killings of her party workers and some from the minorities during the recent panchayat elections in West Bangal. She said 110 persons had been killed, including 70 Trinamool Congress workers during these local elections. She said the visit of the central team to West Bangal to study the law and order situation was fully jusified. The Trinamool Congress member also claimed that there were threats to her life and she had conveyed this to the government. The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ram Naik assured the Lok Sabha that he would convey to the Home Minister the demand of Trinamool Congress leader Mamta Banerjee for a CBI probe into the alleged murders and atrocities in West Bengal during the recent panchayat elections. |
| Postings to Siachen for familiarisation, not
punishment: Defence Minister Tribune News Service NEW DELHI, July 7 — The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes today informed the Rajya Sabha that a proposal had been mooted that all officers working in the Ministry of Defence would undergo familiarisation exercises in different parts of the country, where defence personnel were deployed. In a written reply to a question raised by Mr Ashok Mitra, seeking the background of developments leading to punishment posting of a number of Ministry of Defence officials to Siachen, the Defence Minister, while clarifying that no official had been given a “punishment posting”, said that the familiarisation exercises would be at the beginning of their tenure in the ministry and also at regular intervals during their tenure. Mr Fernandes said, no official had been given a “punishment posting” to Siachen. It had however been felt that it was essential for officials working in the Ministry to have adequate familiarisation and first hand exeperience of ground realities so that they could have an adequate perception of, and sensitivity to, the requirements of defence personnel, working in adverse conditions and the requirements of equipment. “ It was proposed that officers working in the Ministry of Defence would undergo familiarisation exercises in different parts of the country-where defence personnel were deployed- at the beginning of their tenure in this Ministry and also at regular intervals during their tenure.” In the first instance, two officials who were dealing with the procurement of a high priority equipment for troops deployed in Siachen had been to the glacier to undergo familiarisation of one week duration. He said some representations had been received from the officers who had been sent for the familiarisation and added that after they had been considered the officers were suitably adviced that decision to obatin first hand knowledge of ground realities in Siachen should not be construed as punishment. |
| Non-cereal diet,not hunger strike Tribune News Service NEW DELHI, July 7 — The much publicised fast of the BJP vice president, Mr K.L. Sharma, which created a flutter in the ruling party, turned out to be a damp squib with Mr Sharma explaining today that “it is not a protest but a step for public good”. Mr Sharma had announced earlier this week that he would shun cereal diet in support of Delhi citizens who were facing power and water shortages in the capital. Mr Sharma,who is the Lok Sabha MP from Outer Delhi in the capital and a senior BJP leader, provided an opportunity to the Congress for demanding the resignation of the Delhi Chief Minister, Mr Sahib Singh Verma. Mr Sharma’s step was not appreciated by the BJP high command and they advised him to make the necessary amends by issuing a clarification, sources said. Under pressure from the party’s leadership. Mr Sharma told newspersons at the party’s regular media briefing that his resolve to take a non-cereal diet was a protest not against the functioning of the Delhi government but was aimed at building up a moral force for the larger public good. Stating that he had not undertaken a hunger strike but was merely on a non-cereal diet, the BJP leader said the Delhi government under Mr Verma has been doing exceptionally good work. |
| ‘Codify Shariah to stop divorce’ NEW DELHI, July 7 (PTI) — With divorce, desertions and polygamy giving sleepless nights to Muslim women, social activists have suggested voluntary reforms and a codification of Shariah or the Muslim personal law, to address these problems. According to a new all-India study of Muslim women by Mumbai-based Women’s Research and Action Group (WRAG) “divorce and polygamy by husband weigh the most on the minds of Muslim women.” While a Muslim woman has to go to court to seek divorce, her husband does not even need to seek legal recourse for pronouncing talaq. “Under the Muslim law, there is no check, no law against desertions and unilateral divorce of women,” says Ms Seema Mustafa, a women’s rights activist and journalist demanding that divorce should not be allowed without the wife’s consent. Activists like Mustafa have also called for banning conversions of non-Muslims as a means of resorting to polygamy to circumvent their own personal laws. “Such conversions should be banned as they are not truly a change of belief, but are done simply to skirt laws of other religions,” says Supreme Court lawyer Badar Durez Ahmed. He also points out that second marriage could be nullified if proven legally that polygamy was the only reason for conversion. Even as Dr Tahitr Mahmood, Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities notes that divorce rate among Muslims at 3 to 4 per cent is way behind the national averge of 23 per cent, sociologist Imitiaz Ahmed says “it certainly is the most important issue in the lives of women.” “Divorce rate may be less but desertion is prevalent on a wide scale,” says Ms Mustafa. “Practically there’s no mehr (dower), no maintenance, no support for divorced women”, she adds. While there is no legal provision for a Muslim man to divorce his wife through court, Ms Mustafa says a woman’s right to do so is no answer to the problem of desertions. “The wife’s right to seek divorce (in court) is codified, but the husband’s option for the same isn’t,” says Dr Mahmood. “But there is no need as the personal law guarantees it,” counters Supreme Court lawyer, Dr Mohammad Sajid. While Mr Ahmed says a woman’s options are limited as she can “only appeal” for divorce, Mr Mustafa stresses the need for legal checks against arbitrary talaq. “Most of the problems are arising due to lack of codification of Shariah,” says Dr Mahmood suggesting that Shariah should be totally codified. He also cites several Islamic countries who have done so and others like Tunisia and Turkey which have “reformed” the law in consonance with the prevailing mores. “Times have changed and a provision for divorce through mutual settlement is needed,” says Ms Ayesha Begum, editor of the dailies — In Dinon and These Days.Jamaat-e-Islami secretary Mohammad Aijaz Aslam says “not all problems can be solved by recourse to law”. Yet another area where Shariah has been interpreted variously is that of adoption and inheritance. The personal law being silent on the issue of adoption as Islam does not recognise non-blood relationships, people who go in for adoption have to legally will their property to foster children. Mr Aslam says “Islam doesn’t recognise unnatural relations but the followers can adopt children.” “Such adopted children can inherit property only if the parents grant such a right through will but it should not exceed one-third of their property. They can, however, gift their entire property to the adopted children,” notes Mr Durez Ahmed. Dr Mahmood says in Tunisia and Turkey Shariah has been amended to permit adoption to include rights of inheritance to such children. While Mr Ahmed says “women themselves do not see adoption and inheritance as fundamental issues today,” Mr Aslam defends the one-third right of inheritance to daughters by arguing that “it’s the husband and not wife who is responsible for maintenance of the family.” Even as some people favour the initiation of legal reforms and codification of the Shariah in toto, the orthodox oppose them on what they call “the basis of empirical realities or on religious grounds.” The Jamaat-e-Islami secretary says there is no need for reforms in Muslim law as only “moral individuals” can build a good society. Mr Ahmed says even the codification of Shariah cannot be “final” as the law keeps evolving. All “legally discriminatory” provisions against women should be amended, says Ms Mustafa, adding that Muslim men and political leaders must not come in the way of women’s NGOs working in the area. But Mr Ahmed notes that in case of inheritance, not only Muslims but Hindus also discriminate in bequeathing equal share to their daughters in practice. Indo-British ties at low ebb Tribune News Service NEW DELHI, July 7 — The Indo-British relations have been at the lowest ebb in the recent times with New Delhi consciously avoiding London in its dialogue with the key interlocutors on the international nuclear regime after Pokhran II. While New Delhi has taken a diplomatic initiative with the USA, Russia and France to open a dialogue, India has tactically avoided Britain on the issue in full knowledge of the fact that the present Labour government has been traditionally opposed to its vital national interests, diplomatic sources said. London’s views on the issue and the Labour government’s known tilt towards Pakistan became apparent when the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr Brajesh Mishra met the British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook in London last month. Mr Mishra got a positive response both in Paris and Moscow but he realised the futility of a dialogue with the British government. India’s relations have, even in the past, deteriorated whenever a Labour government came to power in London. Mr Cook, who accompanied Queen Elizabeth II on an official visit to India last year, was responsible for a major faux pas which led to a controversy. Mr Cook has been nursuing a personal grievance towards the Indian foreign policy establishment,sources said adding that his personal prejudices have contributed to the decline in Indo-British relations. Mr Cook and the Labour Party stalwarts were ignored by the Indian High Commission during the earlier Conservative governments. |
| ‘Take up’ pilgrims problems with Pak NEW DELHI, July 7 (PTI) — Parliament’s Standing Committee on External Affairs has asked the government to take up “at the earliest” with Pakistan the issue of considerable difficulties faced by Indian pilgrims to obtain visas to visit Nankana Saheb and Punja Saheb in that country. “There has been increasing demand for visas for visiting Nankana Saheb and Punja Saheb. However, the Indian pilgrims face considerable difficulties in obtaining visas to visit these places in Pakistan,” the 44-member committee, chaired by former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral, said in its latest report. The committee, which tabled its report in the Lok Sabha yesterday, said “the matter needs to be taken up with the Government of Pakistan at the earliest”. The committee felt necessary measures should be taken by the External Affairs ministry for making suitable arrangements and providing more facilities for pilgrims going to Kailash Mansarovar (in Tibet) and Nankana Saheb and Punja Saheb. Possibility of providing an alternate and easier route for Mansarovar pilgrimage through Nepal under a tripartite visa arrangement with China and Nepal might also be explored, it said. Besides chairman Gujral, the committee comprised 29 members from the Lok Sabha and 14 members from the Rajya Sabha. The committee drew the ministry’s attention to the several complaints received about the method of selection of Haj pilgrims and making funds available to them for the pilgrimage. Since the Haj affairs were looked after by the ministry, it felt that there should be a clear demarcation of powers of the mission at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Haj committee in Mumbai to avoid any overlapping between them, which, in turn, resulted in lot of difficulties to the Hajis. As the Haj committee was still functioning under the old statute, it said early steps should be taken to review and make necessary amendments in the Central Haj Committee Act. On being asked about Kailash Mansarovar yatra, the ministry informed the committee during the current year it proposed to send 16 batches of about 600 pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar. The ministry said that there is a bilateral agreement with the Chinese Government which ensures appropriate arrangements, including getting visas and permits for Indian pilgrims. Regarding pilgrimages to Nankana Saheb and Punja Saheb, it said these were covered under a bilateral protocol signed with Pakistan in 1974. Noting that there was a steady increase in the number of Haj pilgrims from India, the ministry maintained that suitable arrangements were being made to provide “more and better” facilities to haj pilgrims through computerised operations. The number of Haj staff and medical personnel had been increased and the quality of accomodation provided had been improved. The ministry told the committee that the draft of a new Haj Act is presently under government’s consideration and reconstitution of Haj committee had also been taken up. Railways rapped for cost overruns NEW DELHI, July 7 (PTI) — A parliamentary committee has rapped the Railway Ministry for undertaking new projects every year without having sufficient funds resulting in huge cost and time overruns and asked it to evolve a clear-cut policy to select new projects to be completed in a fixed time frame. “Every year new projects are taken up at the cost of projects which were either priority projects or were nearing the completion stage. The priority criteria for funding the ongoing projects have not been adhered to,” the standing committee on Railways in its report on demands for grants for 1998-99 presented to Parliament said. The committee, under the chairmanship of Ms Mamata Banerjee, observed the cost of completing all pending projects was a whopping Rs 35,000 crore. “At the present rate of allocation per year, it will take 40 years for completion of all pending ongoing new line projects’ 10 to 11 years for gauge conversion and 5-6 years for doubling of lines,” it said. Stating that it was not at all satisfied with the present state of affairs, the committee cautioned that unless the ministry fixed a time frame for completing the projects and strictly adhered to it, it was not feasible for the Railways to get rid of the ongoing predicament of time and cost overruns of the pending projects. President, PM greet people on Id NEW DELHI, July 7 (PTI) — The President, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister today greeted people on the occasion of Milad-Ul-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad, and asked them to follow his teachings of truth and brotherhood. The President, Mr K.R. Narayanan said: “Let us remind ourselves of the Prophet’s message of equality and be inspired by it to work for unity and fraternity among all people.” The Vice-President, Mr Krishan Kant, said the Prophet made his advent on earth to show to mankind “the path of righteousness, compassion, truth, virtue, brotherhood and tolerance”. Greeting the people, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said: “The Prophet’s message of love and compassion inspires one and all to promote human values.” Bhatnagar is Plan panel Adviser NEW DELHI, July 7 (PTI) — The government today announced five senior level appointments with Mr Arun Bhatnagar, Additional Secretary in the Department of Telecom, being elevated as Adviser in the Planning Commission in the rank and pay scale of Secretary. Krishna Singh, a Bihar cadre ias officer of the 1966 batch, has also been promoted Adviser in the Planning Commission in the rank of Secretary, an official note said. Mr Bhatnagar belongs to the 1966 batch of the ias from Madhya Pradesh. Mr S. Narayanan, Ambassador, permament mission of India in the World Trade Organisation and a 1966 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre ias officer, has been elevated to the rank of Secretary. Mr Pradeep Baijal, Additional Secretary in the Power Ministry and a Madhya Pradesh cadre ias officer of the 1966 batch, has been elevated as Special Secretary in the same ministry. Mr Vinod Vaish, Additional Secretary in the Environment Ministry, has also been elevated as Special Secretary in the same ministry. |
| Women ask Shourie to apologise NEW DELHI, July 7 (PTI) — Leading women’s organisations today termed as “crude comments” journalist-turned-politician Arun Shourie’s remarks on women in an article recently and demanded a public apology. Mr Shourie, a bjp Rajya Sabha member, and his party had to be accountable for his words and actions, they said. “Is this the type of sexist and insulting language that Mr Shourie will use in Parliament,” the organisations, including the All-India Democratic Women’s Association and the National Federation of Indian Women, asked in a statement. They said if Mr Shourie failed to issue a public apology the bjp should do so as the mp’s remarks had “hurt the sentiments of women”. Mr Shourie had made the remarks in an article on the Indian Council of Historical Research written by him and published in a local daily on July 3. |
| In brief Hijack threat delays flight KOHIMA: An Alliance Airlines flight from Nagaland’s Dimapur Airport was delayed by more than two hours following a phone call threatening to hijack the plane, police sources said here on Tuesday. Jawans of the Army, the CRPF and the police personnel immediately swung into anti-hijacking operation both at the airport complex and inside the plane when the police received an anonymous call saying the CD-257 Dimapur-Calcutta flight would be hijacked from Dimapur to an undisclosed destination. — PTI Army jawan held for killing cops MUZAFFARNAGAR: An Army jawan, Ajab Singh, was arrested in connection with the killing of two policemen and abduction of a boy, the police said on Tuesday. The jawan allegedly killed the policemen when they had gone to Dalri village to arrest the kidnappers of a 12-year-old boy on July 2, Superintendent of Police S.N. Sabat said. The police has arrested 14 persons in this connection. — PTI INS Vikrant may become museum NEW DELHI: A proposal to convert India’s first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, into a maritime museum is under active consideration of the government, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday. The Maharashtra Government has submitted a proposal of Rs 76 crore to this effect, Defence Minister George Fernandes said during question hour. The proposal comprises two main parts, including waiver of the scrap value of the ship amounting to Rs 18 crore by the Centre and approval of the Mumbai Port Trust for locational clearance for grounding the ship, he told Mr Sanjay Nirupan (SS) in a written reply. — PTI Pakistanis overstaying in India NEW DELHI: More than 2,872 Pakistanis, who came to India in 1997, are untraceable while another 8436 are overstaying even after the expiry of their valid travel documents. Giving this information in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, said the Centre had asked the state governments to launch a special drive for detection and deportation of foreigners, who were residing in the country illegally. He said 56110 Pakistanis were overstaying in India since 1993 and of them 14560 were untraceable. — UNI Alzheimer’s disease on rise in India NEW DELHI: The number of people afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease, a brain disorder afflicting the elderly, is rising steeply in India, warn experts, who say lack of information about the disease makes these people silent sufferers. About one person in five, over the age of 60, is falling prey to the disease in India, but it is still highly “under-recognised” due to lack of awareness among professionals and family members, Mr Vijay Chandra, Director of the Centre of Ageing Research said on Monday. To raise awareness about the disease, Cochin will host a three-day international conference from September 24 to September 27. — PTI Reward for Tanwar’s murder clue NEW DELHI: The CBI on Tuesday announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for any clue to solve the five-year-old mystery shrouding the murder of Dr Surinder Tanwar, who was allegedly close to former Congress president Sita Ram Kesri. The move to announce the cash reward came on the heels of the investigating agency filing a status report in the Delhi High Court after the latter transferred the probe from the crime branch of Delhi police to the CBI. The investigation into the case by the CBI was entrusted by the High Court on April 22. — PTI Naxalites kill 2 policemen BALAGHAT (Madhya Pradesh): Two policemen, including Additional Superintendent of Police R.N. Bansal, were killed in an encounter with the Naxalites in the forests of Balaghat district in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. The police said here the encounter took place in Khapra Jhiri village, under Hata police chauki, 37 km from here. Besides Mr Bansal, assistant sub-inspector Dangal Singh was also killed. — UNI Protest against Jain Muni’s killing NASHIK: A large number of people belonging to the Jain community, took out a morcha to the District Collectorate on Monday in protest against the killing of their saint, Muni Sampat Maharaj, at Aurangabad and demanded the arrest of the culprits. Addressing a large gathering in front of the Collectorate, the community leaders threatened to intensify their struggle if the government failed to take immediate action. — PTI STF nabs Veerappan’s accomplice SALEM: The Tamil Nadu special task force (STF) on Monday nabbed an accomplice of the dreaded sandalwood smuggler, Veerappan, near Palar in Salem district, STF Superintendent of Police, Ashok Kumar Das said. Sunda Vellaiyan, a Veerappan gang member, was apprehended by a police team, engaged in a search operation, near Kolathur and Palar areas. Mr Das said Vellaiyan was involved in many cases of sandalwood theft and the murder of four persons, his own relatives at Ariyur in Dharmapuri district in 1993. — PTI. |
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