Briefly Region

Blood money paid for 17 Indians on UAE death row

Ludhiana: Finally,17 Indians who were sentenced to death by a UAE court for the murder of a Pakistani,are set to walk free after around Rs 4 crore (Pakistani Rupees 8 crore) blood money was deposited in the court on Wednesday. “The Government of India keeping in mind the interests of the accused and recognising and respecting the local judicial processes and practices had no objections to the compromise established by the Indian community today in the Sharjah Appeals Court,” a statement from the Consulate General of India in Dubai said. The blood money was deposited by Dubai-based founder-member of Indian Punjabi Society and president of NGO Sarbat Da Bhalla S P Singh Oberoi. The judge has now set September 12 as the day of judgment. Today’s was the 16th hearing in the case.

Two held with fake currency

Amritasar: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials Wednesday arrested two persons—Farhan Khan and son Imran,residents of Saharanpur in UP—from near the border town of Jhabhal and recovered fake currency worth Rs 9.5 lakh. DRI officials said they had picked up the currency notes packed in bundles and thrown from Pakistan side of the border and further investigations regarding the courriers and their destination were on.

Farmers begin hunger strike in jail

Bathinda: The farmers sent to Bathinda jail in connection with land acquisition row involving Gobindpura power plant today decided to observe hunger strike inside to lodge their protest against “forcible” acquisition of land. 11 farmers today observed a hunger strike. The farmers have decided to observe daily hunger strike by alternate groups of 11 farmers,said BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) Bathinda district president Shingara Singh Mann,adding that nearly 100 farmers were in jail for opposing the “forcible” acquisition of land.

Father helf for raping 18-year-old daughter

Phagwara: The father of an 18-year-old girl was arrested for raping his daughter. In her complaint,the girl said she was raped by her father,Shamsher Singh,earlier too. She said she had not filed a case earlier as she was threatened.

BJP cell to hold protest on Aug 3

Chandigarh: Demanding the tabling of Land Acquisition Bill in forthcoming monsoon session and amendments in already tabled Pesticides Management Bill and Seed bill,the Bharatiya Janata Party Kisan Morcha will hold demonstration at Parliament on August 3. BJP Kisan Morcha president O P Dhankar said all the agriculture bills are against the farming community. He said the aim of Pesticides Management Bill is to protect human,animal and environment,besides using good pesticides to save crops from pest attacks,look for less dangerous alternates and to provide pesticides at affordable rates in adequate quantity.