FM visits Mamata’s ailing mother
Kolkata: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday visited Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s mother Gayatri Devi, undergoing treatment at the SSKM Hospital here. Gayatri Devi was admitted to the hospital on Novermber 25 following renal problem. Her condition deteriorated on November 30. Mukherjee visited the hospital a little after one pm. He spoke to the doctors treating her. He was accompanied by Trinamool Congress leader Subrata Bakshi. Gayatri Devi had been put on dialysis and life support in the ICU. There was slight improvement in her condition on Friday. However, she is being monitored by a team of doctors round the clock, according to hospital sources. (UNI)
Maoists blow up 2 cell phone towers
Jamui: Armed cadres of the proscribed CPI (Maoist) blew up two cell phone towers and kidnapped as many security guards at Chaigaon village under Jhajha police station area in the district on Saturday. Police said about 30 Maoists attacked Chaigaon village in the small hours and blew up two cell phone towers by triggering an explosion with dynamite. They also kidnapped two security guards.Raids were being carried out to nab the rebels and rescue the abducted guards, police added. (UNI)
Three of a family charred to death
Rae Bareli: A woman and her two children were charred to death when a fire gutted their house in Saraini area in the district, police said on Saturday. Prabha (40), her one-and-a-half-year-old son Niranjan and daughter Seema (9) were asleep last night when the fire engulfed their hut at Chahautar village. The fire apparently broke out from an earthen lamp. The victim woman hailed from Chhattisgarh and was working at a brick kiln. (PTI)
2 detained under Goondas Act
Chennai: Two people, who were arrested by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for cheating several depositors to the tune of several crore of rupees, were on Saturday detained under the Goondas Act. The duo, Ajmath Khan Ghori (35) and Asmath Khan Ghori (36) were brothers and natives of Rajapalayam in Tirunelveli district. An EOW release here said Ajmath and Asmath, who were school drop-outs, along with their school mate Ms Hebsiba Merlin Shofi (33) of Nagercoil started a venture called ”Green Life” and floated a fraudulent financial institution at Ellis Nagar, Madurai in 2009. Announcing various attractive deposit schemes promising unprecedented higher returns, they lured innocent public to deposit their hard earned money into their delusive schemes. (UNI)
Convocation held in jail
Ahmedabad: Sabarmati Central Jail here became the first jail in Gujarat to host a convocation ceremony of a reputed university for its inmates, who queued up in ritualistic gowns and hats to get the diplomas this morning in the jail premises. Dr Ramnathan, Vice Chancellor of Annamalai Open University, specially attended the convocation and gave away the diplomas to successful candidates. Rajyogini Sarla Didi of Brahmakumaris also gave her blessings to the passouts. Talking to UNI, P C Thakur, ADGP, prisons, said 72 inmates of various jails of the State had got themselves registered for Post Graduate Diploma in Value Education and Spirituality conducted by Annamalai University, under its distance education programme. (UNI)
Lawyer shot dead
Firozabad: A lawyer was shot dead and his brother injured by three motorcycle-borne assailants in Shikohabad area in the district, police said here. Amarpal (50) was shot dead at Mustafabad road last evening when he was returning home from court, Additional Superintendent of Police Radhey Shyam said. The victim’s brother, Ompal, was injured in the firing and has been admitted to a hospital, he said. Police suspect old rivalry to be the motive for the attack. (PTI)
Two persons killed in mishaps
Indore: Two persons were killed and two others injured in three road mishaps here, police said on Saturday. Twelve year old Gulrej was crushed to death when a vehicle in which he was travelling turned turtle at Dhakkanwala-kua, they said. A man, yet to be identified, was run over by an unknown vehicle on Nasia road near Gujarati college. A driver and cleaner of truck were injured when their vehicle fell into a roadside ditch early this morning following break failure at Ralamandal bye pass, they said. (PTI)