New Delhi: A Delhi court today framed charges of rape and unnatural offence against two young men accused of raping a five-year-old girl here, paving way for their trial. Charges of rape and unnatural offence have been slapped against the two accused by the court on its own as these two sections were not invoked by the police in its charge sheet. Provisions under the child protection act have been been invoked against them. Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Garg said “prima facie” charges of raping a minor, kidnapping, unnatural offence, attempt to murder, destruction of evidence and wrongful confinement with common intention under IPC are made out against accused Manoj Shah (22) and Pradeep Kumar (20). The court also framed against them charges of aggravated sexual assault under the newly enacted Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act which entails a maximum punishment of life imprisonment. The charges were framed against Manoj and Pradeep after they pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. ASJ Garg, who is presiding over special court under the POCSO Act, fixed the matter for July 24 for recording the statement of prosecution witnesses, including parents of the minor victim. The duo are accused of brutally raping the five-year-old girl on April 15 in a building in east Delhi’s Gandhi Nagar locality where the victim and accused lived. The girl was rescued 40 hours later on April 17 and is under treatment at AIIMS. Manoj and Pradeep, who had fled after committing the crime, were arrested from Bihar, according to the police. (PTI)
Women’s univ reaccredited by NAAC
Coimbatore: Avinashilingam University for Women here has been reaccredited at ‘Grade A’ by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). A nine-member NAAC Peer Team had visited the university for three days from April 22 last for the 3rd cycle of Assessment and Accreditation and it received the reaccreditation on July eight, Vice-Chancellor, Sheela Ramachandran said on Thursday. The highlights of the team’s report include focus on academic and social empowerment of women, moral and ethical value and physical fitness integrated into the curriculum in tune with the vision of the University and spacious satellite campus with ample scope for expansion, Sheela said. Some other parameters which contributed to the reaccreditation, were academic recognition, student diversity and support, ICT provision teaching-learning and evaluation, Institution’s strength and opportunities, she said. A thanks-giving meeting was organised on the University premises, in which the trustees, professors, students and former Vice-Chancellors and Registrars participated. (PTI)
Omar attends prayer to mark grandmother’s death anniversary
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday offered special prayers in memory of his grandmother and wife of National Conference founder Sheikh Abdullah, Begum Akbar Jahan, on the occasion of her 13th death anniversary. However, Jahan’s son and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Farooq Abdullah, was not present at the prayer meeting as he is in Mongolia to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj. Omar visited the Naseembagh grave of Jahan, popularly known as “Madre-e-Meharban”, near Hazratbal shrine on the banks of the Dal Lake, and offered ‘Fateh’ or special prayers. He laid a wreath on his grandmother’s grave and also on that of his grandfather, Sheikh Abdullah, affectionately known as Sher-i-Kashmir. A “Majlis-i-Quran Khwani” (reading of the holy Quran) was also held on the occasion. A large number of people, including ministers, legislators and political activists attended the prayer meeting. (PTI)
Income criteria relaxed for ST scholarships
NEW DELHI: The family income ceiling for ST students under the central scholarship scheme of “Top Class Education” was Thursday hiked from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.4.5 lakh per annum. This will come into effect from the selection year 2013-14, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters. According to him, the move will enable a larger number of ST students pursuing higher and technical education to avail the scheme. (IANS)
Security tightened at Sarnath after in Bodhgaya terror strike
Varanasi: Security has been tightened in Sarnath, located about 12 kms from the holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, in wake of the recent terror strikes at Bodhgaya in Bihar. As per Superintendent of Police (city) Rahul Raj today, security has been stepped up at Sarnath, where Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon. CCTV cameras would be fixed at prime locations for better security in the wake of the recent terror strike at Bodhgaya on Sunday, he said. The decision regarding stringent security was taken up in the meeting of senior police officials and Buddha disciples at the work place of Mahabodhi Society of India. (UNI)