Quicktakes

Duty hike on sugar import
NEW DELHI: In a bid to protect the interest of farmers and the domestic industry, Government on Thursday hiked import duties on sugar and refined edible oil by 12.5 and 11 per cent respectively. Announcing this Consumer Affairs Minister Shanta Kumar told reporters that mandatory obligation of providing levy sugar for public distribution by mills has been reduced from the present 40 per cent to 30 per cent in an attempt to move towards decontrolling the commodity.

Self-immolation bid
BHUBANESWAR: Six graduates on Thursday suffered serious burn injuries when they tried to self-immolate outside the official residence of Minister of State for School and Mass Education Nabin Chandra Naryan Das here. Police said, the six demonstrators are trained in Certificate of Teachers training course but unemployed. To protest against this, the youths were demonstrating outside the minister8217;s house.

Swami shot dead
NANDED: Swami Kesharinandan Tiwari alias Keshavacharya, chief priest of the Balaji Temple at Gadipura area here, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Wednesday evening, police said on Thursday. According to the police, the criminals attacked his car by firing bullets from a country-made revolver.

Tension in Pondy
PONDICHERRY: Tension prevailed at Villianur when an 800 strong mob, including women, gathered on the main road demanding the withdrawal of resignation by Tamil Maanila Congress Legislator C Jayakumar. Jayakumar, who represents Villinaur in the territorial assembly, came out to pacify the mob stating that he had resigned as per the direction of TMC president G K Moopanar but he would continue to serve them following which the mob dispersed.