Quicktakes

Punjab bandh claims oneCHANDIGARH: Curfew was imposed in the border town of Ferozepore and a woman was killed as the protestors turned viole...

Punjab bandh claims one
CHANDIGARH: Curfew was imposed in the border town of Ferozepore and a woman was killed as the protestors turned violen on Tuesday during the Punjab Bandh8217; call given by Valmiki community against the Doordarshan serial Jai Veer Hanuman8217;. About three dozen persons, including two constables, were also injured as the police resorted to lathi-charge and teargas to disperse the demonstrators at Jalandhar. The telecast of the serial on Tuesday evening was stopped.

MiG crashes
PATHANKOT: An Indian Air Force MiG-21 plane today crashed into a shopping complex in Pathankot district of Punjab killing two persons and injuring an equal number, police said. The aircraft broke in mid-air into three pieces, one of which fell on the premises of a shop dealing with iron-scrap killing two employees 8212; Mithun and Pankaj 8212; and injuring two at Pathankot bypass.

Ranvir Sena attack
ARA: The toll in the attack by Ranvir Sena at Nagri Market in Bihar8217;s Bhojpur district roseto ten today with one of the victims succumbing to his injuries at the Piro Hospital, official sources said. Eight people were killed on the spot by the Sena marauders last night and one died on his way to the Sadar hospital.

Nurses8217; stir
NEW DELHI: Talks between striking nurses and Government failed for the second day on Tuesday with the Delhi Nurses Union DNU outrightly rejecting the five-point package and threatening to intensify their eight-day-old stir accusing authorities of 8220;backtracking8221;. They also refused to join the negotiating table if Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Lal Khurana joined in the mediation and charged him with 8220;politicking8221; the issue.

Pak blasphemy
MULTAN: A Pakistani High Court here today suspended the death sentence handed by a lower court to a Christian man convicted of defaming the Prophet Mohammed, court officials said. The death sentence handed to Ayub Masih was ordered suspended by the Lahore High Court after hearing the appeal of the convictedman8217;s counsel. Legal sources said the next hearing on the appeal was expected in June.The death penalty handed to Masih in April triggered the suicide of Catholic bishop John Joseph last week.