Quicktakes

Ultras blast school bus; 3 kids hurt
SRINAGAR: Six persons including three school children were wounded in a powerful explosion inside a school bus at a crowded bus stand in Shopian area of south Kashmir today. The bomb went off around 0910 hours when the bus was on its way to Balpora, an official spokesman said adding that no militant outfit has owned responsibility for the act. The condition of two of the injured was stated to be serious, he added. Militants also made an abortive attempt on the life of a police officer and shot at and wounded a National Conference activist and torched two houses.

Fodder scam
PATNA: The Patna High Court today expressed strong displeasure over the 8220;tardy pace of investigation8221; by the CBI into the fodder scam and asked agency8217;s director Trinath Mishra, to explain in an affidavit by May 15 the reasons for it. 8220;The investigations into the scam appear to have slowed down..

And there is absolutely no progress in it ever since the agency8217;s DIG probing thescam, R N Kaul, was transferred to Delhi on April three,8221; a division bench, comprising Justice S N Jha and Justice S J Mukhopadhyaya, monitoring the investigations, observed.

Batatawala killed
MUMBAI: Two unidentified gunmen shot dead suspended customs and excise inspector, Farooque Batatawala, tonight in South Mumbai. Batatawala was gunned down by the two men, riding a motorcycle. Batatawala succumbed to his injuries at JJ hospital.