BJP MLA misses first day of Jharkhand assembly
Jamshedpur: Newly elected BJP MLA Sadhu Charan Mahato from Ichagarh constituency will not be able to attend the inaugural session of Jharkhand assembly today after his bail petition was rejected by the court. “I have moved a bail petition in the district court of Seraikela-Kharswan, which is expected to be heard later in the day on Tuesday after the sub-judicial magistrate court rejected my bail petition recently,” Mahato said. “I have prayed to the court to grant me bail so that I can attend the assembly session and take oath,” he said. The four-day inaugural session of the fourth Jharkhand assembly began today. Mahato and Arvind Kumar Singh, former MLA of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) JVM(P) were arrested following a clash between their supporters on the eve of polling in the state on December 9. Singh, who had represented Ichagarh constituency thrice, lost to Mahato in the assembly poll. Mahato, who is a first time legislator, is undergoing treatment at Tata Main Hospital here under police custody. Singh is also being treated at M G M Hospital. (PTI)
Unclaimed tiffin box causes bomb scare
Jalpaiguri (WB): An abandoned tiffin box found inside a state-run bus triggered a bomb scare near this headquarter town of Jalpaiguri district on Tuesday. A stack of pedas (sweets) were, however, found inside the box after it was opened by a bomb disposal squad, police said. The bus was on its way to Banarhat from Jalpaiguri when passengers found the tiffin box, following which it was stopped at Paharpur More and the police was informed. Policemen brought a trained dog but it failed to sniff its contents as the tiffin box was airtight. The bus was then cordoned off and the bomb squad was informed, police said, adding, the passengers were sent to their destination in another bus. A large number of people who had gathered at the spot heaved a sigh of relief when bomb squad personnel opened the tiffin box and found ‘pedas’ in it. (PTI)
Maoists, police face-off in Khammam
Hyderabad:An exchange of fire took place between Maoists and police on Tuesday in Telangana’s Khammam district while six vehicles used for laying roads were found burnt, police said. The face-off took place at around 8 AM between the rebels and the special police party in a forest area of Khammam bordering Chhattisgarh. Security forces have stepped up combing in the area, Additional Superintendent of Police Bhadrachalam (sub-division) N Prakash Reddy told PTI over phone. “As per information, there were no casualties. We are awaiting more details with regard to the exchange of fire. Additional forces have been rushed to the area and combing operation is continuing,” the ASP said. Meanwhile, at least six vehicles used for road laying were set on fire under Wazeedu police station limits of the district last night, the senior police officer said. “We need to establish whether it is the act of Maoists. Our police team has gone to the spot. Further investigation is going on to find out the motive (behind burning of vehicles) and search for those who set the vehicles on fire,” he said. (PTI)
Swine Flu claims 3 lives in Rajasthan in six days
Jaipur:A 45-year-old man died of swine flu here, taking the toll of the disease-related deaths in the state to three in the New Year, health officials said on Tuesday. Gopal Lal Kumawat of Sambhar town died of swine flu on Sunday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital where he was admitted on December 29, officials said. Earlier, two persons — 33-year-old Narendra Gochar and 44-year-old Indira Devi — had died while undergoing treatment in Kota and Jaipur on January 2 and January 1 respectively, according to a report by the health department. Of the fifty samples collected, two suspected swine flu patients are being treated in the city hospitals. Extreme cold weather conditions or fluctuating temperature was responsible for the cause of H1N1 disease, the report said. (PTI)
14-year-old molested by hostel superintendent
Raipur:A 14-year-old student was allegedly molested by hostel superintendent in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, police said on Tuesday. According to the police, Tulsiram Yalam (38), the superintendent of the hostel of government-run residential Model School, had misbehaved with the victim in December last year. He started to frequently molested the girl, who studis in seventh standard, and threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed the offence to anyone, Bijapur Superintendent of police K L Dhruv. Although the girl had shared her ordeal with her friends, nobody dared to speak against the superintendent, he said. A case has been registered in this connection under relevant IPC sections and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, Dhruv said, adding that efforts are on to trace the absconding accused. Further probe was on in the case, he added. (PTI)