Briefly Nation: President’s plane develops problem,flight delayed

FIR against Salman for activist assault

KANPUR: An FIR has been registered against actor Salman Khan,his bodyguard Shera and five others for allegedly assaulting an anti-corruption activist during the promotion of his film in the city in August. The FIR was registered on Monday. 46-year-old Khan was in Kanpur on August 24 when activist and ex IIT-ian Omendra Bharat and some others crowded around his vehicle to present him a Gandhi cap and request him to join their agitation. However,they were allegedly assaulted by Shera and other security personnel,the complainant has claimed.

Maoist surrenders in Birbhum

BOLPUR: Responding to CM Mamata Banerjee’s rehabilitation package,Barun Das alias Surya,a Maoist,on Wednesday surrendered to the police at Suri in Birbhum district of West Bengal. Das,who was involved in several cases of killing of village guards,blowing up of rail tracks and mobile towers and other subversive activities at Khairasole area since 2007,surrendered to the police,SP Nishat Pervez said. Das was the “commander-in-charge of Khairasole-Dubrajpur area,” he said.

Godmother’s son freed in murder case

RAJKOT: In a setback to the prosecution,a district court on Wednesday acquitted Karan Jadeja,son of late Santokben Jadeja,popularly known as ‘godmother’,of murdering his sister-in-law for want of evidence. Rekha Jadeja,daughter-in-law of former Janta Dal MLA Santokben Jadeja,was shot dead in May 2006 and Karan was arrested from Mumbai for his alleged role in the case. Rekha was killed allegedly due to a family dispute.

Sikkim declared disaster-hit state

GANGTOK: Sikkim has been officially declared as a ‘Disaster Affected State’ by the government to avail of soft loans and other facilities from banks,official sources said on Wednesday. It was also to source funds from international funding agencies such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank,the sources said. Banks and international agencies had been approached by the state government for rebuilding efforts following the earthquake of September 18,they said. The notification was issued on November 21,the sources added.

AI boost to ITBP troops at borders

NEW DELHI: The government has reserved a chunk of Air India seats every week to ferry ITBP troops deployed for border guarding duties along the icy frontiers with China. 105 seats have been reserved for the personnel in an Air India plane that will take them every Saturday from Delhi to Leh and bring an equal number back,a senior Indo-Tibetan Border Police official said on Wednesday. The decision has been taken by the Home and Civil Aviation Ministries to minimise the hardships the troops face while travelling for their deployment areas along the frontiers and while returning during their leave period.