1984 anti-Sikh riots: SC appoints panel to examine 241 cases
New Delhi, August 16 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed a panel headed by two of its former judges to examine the justification for closure of 241 anti-Sikh riot cases probed by the Special Investigation Team. A bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Amitava Roy and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar gave three months time to the Supervisory Committee to examine the 1984 riot cases and submit its report. The apex court order came after the Centre on Wednesday left it to the court to take a final call on the matter. The court was told that of the 250 cases that were investigated by the SIT, the closure report was filed in 241 cases.
Andhra boy rescued from borewell after 11 hours
Vijayawada, August 16 (IANS): A two-year-old boy, who fell into a borewell in Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district, was rescued after an 11-hour long operation, police said on Wednesday. Chandrasekhar, who fell in the the abandoned borewell around 5 p.m. on Tuesday was brought out alive by the rescue workers around 3 a.m. on Wednesday. The boy was stuck at a depth of 15 feet. He sustained minor injuries on his hands. After first aid by a mobile medical team, he was handed over to his parents.
2 mild quakes hit Chamba in Himachal
Shimla, August 16 (IANS): Two mild quakes were recorded simultaneously on Wednesday in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba region, which witnessed tremors for three consecutive days in May, an official said. “Two earthquake measuring 3.5 and 4.1 on the Richter scale were recorded at 8.33 a.m. and 8.56 a.m., respectively,” Meteorological Office Director Manmohan Singh told IANS. He said the epicentre of the quakes was in the Chamba region, bordering Jammu and Kashmir. There was no report of loss of life or damage to property.
Sushma announces medical visas for Pakistanis
New Delhi, August 16 (IANS): On the occasion of Independence Day, the Ministry of External Affairs announced that India will provide medical visas to all bona fide Pakistan patients. In a tweet on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said: “ On the auspicious occasion of India’s Independence day, we will grant medical visa in all bonafide cases pending with us.” As ties between the two countries soured over various issues, the ministry had announced in May that only a letter of recommendation by Pakistan Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz will enable a Pakistani national to get a medical visa for India. The action was termed “highly regrettable” by Islamabad, who said that asking for a letter from the Foreign Affairs Adviser was “against diplomatic norms” and that “such a requirement has not been prescribed for any other country”.
Two arrested for damaging Netaji’s statue, remanded to PC
Suri (WB), August 16 (PTI): Two persons were arrested in connection with the damage to a bust of Netaji Subhas Chadra Bose at a village panchayat office in West Bengal’s Birbhum district. The two were arrested last night and produced in Dubrajpur court today which sent them to police custody for two days. The two were charged with promoting enmity between different groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony under section 1539(a) of the IPC. District superintendent of police N Sudheerkumar said, “The bust was smeared with tar by some miscreants intentionally. It was an act of mischief. They were interrogated by our officers and will be again interrogated to find whether more people are involved and the motive behind this act.” The bust was to be unveiled on Tuesday morning as part of Independence Day celebration but was found smeared with coal-tar and its face partly damaged.
A motorcyclist who suffered 75 per cent disability in his left leg after being hit by a vehicle has been awarded compensation of more than Rs 24 lakh by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT). Mohd Amir was hit by a Tata Sumo on Republic Day last year when he was riding his motorcycle with two pillion riders on the DND road here. MACT Presiding Officer Rajeev Bansal directed National Insurance Company Ltd, insurer of the Tata Sumo, to pay Amir Rs 24,35,816. It also rejected the contention of the insurance company that the victim was guilty of contributory negligence as he was carrying two pillion riders on the bike. It said there was no evidence that the accident was caused due to two riders behind the victim.
DMK president M Karunanidhi underwent a minor procedure at a hospital here today and was discharged soon after. The 93-year-old leader was also examined by doctors to evaluate his other health parameters. The former chief minister was admitted for a “minor procedure - change of (Percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy) PEG tube,” Kauvery Hospital Executive Director S Aravindan said in a statement. After the completion of the procedure which took about 40 minutes, Karunanidhi was discharged, hospital sources said. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, former Union Minister P Chidambaram, AIADMK leaders M Thambidurai and D Jayakumar were among several leaders who had visited him during his hospitalisation.
The IMD today issued thunderstorm and lightning warning in 18 districts of Odisha. It also cautioned the people in the 18 districts to take shelter in nearby buildings or other safe locations. The districts are Maurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Khorda, Cuttack, Puri, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Koraput, Malkangiri and Gajapati. Meanwhile, Meteorological Centre here said, rainfall occurred at a few places in Odisha with heavy rainfall at one or two places in north coastal Odisha. While Kantapada in Cuttack district recorded 8cm rainfall, Jajpur recorded 6 cm, Jenapur in Jajpur district 5 cm, Tigiria in Cuttack district, Boden in Nawapara district and Jhorigam in Nawarangpur district have received 4 cm rainfall each during the last 24 hours.
